The UAE is edging closer to introducing air taxi services, as Joby and Archer Aviation successfully carried out their first and longest piloted test flights. Last year in February, Joby signed an agreement with the RTA to begin taxi services in Dubai by 2026. On the other hand, Archer Aviation collaborated with ADIO to bring flying taxi services to Abu Dhabi. It is expected that both companies will be offering UAE flying taxi services by the end of this year or next.
Archer’s Midnight Aircraft Completes Longest Piloted Flight
On August 18, 2025, the California-based aircraft company, Archer Aviation, announced that its Midnight aircraft successfully completed the longest piloted flight so far. The aircraft flew approximately 55 miles in just 31 minutes, and this test run was conducted at the company’s Salinas testing base. Last week, the company’s aircraft achieved nearly 150 mph in different test patterns. These successful trials have brought Archer Aviation a step closer to securing FAA certification, which will legally approve their launch of commercial flying taxi services in the UAE.
Archer Aviation’s founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, said achieving the 50-mile mark at such an impressive speed shows how advanced their programme is. The company’s midnight flight test pilots will continue working on achieving longer flights at higher speeds to launch their commercial operations soon in the Emirates. The company is planning to expand its operations and strengthen its presence in the UAE by establishing pilot training, flight testing, and other facilities. Many industry experts have already started calling Archer’s journey one of the best startup story in modern aviation, as it went from concept to record-breaking test flights within just a few years.
Joby Aviation Moves Closer to Flying Taxi Service Approval
At the same time, Joby Aviation also carried out a successful piloted flight between two airports in the US in a restricted airspace. The company is set to start air taxi services in Dubai during the first half of 2026. The piloted flight covered 10 nautical miles in 12 minutes. This successful trial shows the company’s constant efforts to secure regulatory approval in the US for the launch of commercial service. Recently, the company and RTA have signed an agreement with Skyports Infrastructure to construct vertiports in Dubai.
Before the recent successful flight, Joby’s flight had achieved a successful test at the Dubai Jetman Helipad Margham. During that trial at the company’s helipad located near Dubai-Al Ain Road, the aircraft circled the helipad and the desert area several times. The US-based company operated the recent flight in restricted airspace controlled by the FAA between OAR and MRY airports in California.
Joby’s aircraft development and manufacturing president, Didier Papadopoulos, said that the successful flights between the two airports proved they are fully ready to start services from day one and showed their aircraft can be part of a wider transportation network. Moreover, the company has started the final assembly of its first aircraft for TIA flight testing. This shows the company has already taken a major step to secure FAA certification. Dubai will be the first emirate in which Joby’s UAE flying taxi services will be launched.
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