UAE residents can now see air taxis up close near Dubai Mall
Residents and visitors to Dubai were able to see an air taxi up-close this week as Joby Aviation brought its electric aircraft to Downtown Dubai for a public showcase meant to engage with the community ahead of the air taxi service’s future launch.
Displayed near Dubai Mall this week, passerbys stopped to take pictures, ask questions and learn more about how the all-electric air taxi will work when it’s launched in Dubai.
“It’s about allowing people to see it, touch it and really understand what’s coming,” said Lorcan Lynch, Flight Operations Manager UAE at Joby Aviation. “We want people to feel like they know it before they ever book their first ride.”
Lynch told Local Dubai that the aircraft is actually known as an eVTOL, which stands for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The craft is considered its own category outside of airplanes and helicopters, using six electric propellers that tilt from vertical to horizontal to take off from small spaces in urban areas, then shift to forward flight.
“It literally takes off vertically like a helicopter,” he said. “And then after takeoff, once it’s safely up, it rotates those props forward and flies like an airplane. Which allows it to fly faster, more efficiently and farther.”
Lynch added that it is part of what the company describes as advanced air mobility.
Noise levels were one aspect that Joby emphasized during the display. Lynch said that when the craft is flying at heights it will operate at, it’s virtually inaudible.
“If you’re underneath it at 1,000 feet over the city, which is the lowest safe flying height that we will operate at, you will not hear it coming. You would only know that the aircraft was above you if you looked up,” Lynch said.
Dubai’s first air taxi network will connect four vertiports throughout the city, including Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina near American University of Dubai, and Downtown Dubai, where authorities are planning to build a vertiport atop an existing parking garage. Lynch said Joby Airports Dubai International is “substantially done.”
The display in Downtown Dubai will be open to the public until February 5, Thursday evening. Joby employees will be on hand to encourage people to learn more and do with the aircraft what they wish. Visitors can take photos as they please with their own phones, but professional photos were available for those interested.
Nadine Finge, Marketing Manager UAE at Joby Aviation organized the activation.
Fashion and fitness model Kunal Sharma stopped to take photos with the aircraft. Sharma has businesses in the UAE and said he has been in the country for two weeks. “It’s crazy seeing it in real life. It makes you feel like anything is possible,” he said.
The free public display comes as Dubai continues developing its air taxi infrastructure. Joby Aviation and RTA completed the United Arab Emirates first-ever successful eVTOL test flight in November 2025. The seven minute flight from Joby’s test facility in Margham to Al Maktoum International Airport would usually take about 50 minutes by road.
Authorities have stated that they will need to price the service affordably to meet public transport objectives as the eVTOL service prepares for commercial operations.
Comments