Dubai has officially commenced construction on what will be the world’s first purpose-built flying taxi station, or vertiport, adjacent to Dubai International Airport (DXB). The announcement was made by Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, who confirmed that groundwork is already underway on the facility, which is named DXV.
Griffiths described the project as a bold step toward the future of personal mobility. “We’re very heavily involved in it,” he said in a statement to Gulf News. “In fact, construction on site has started.” He emphasized the smooth and quiet performance of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft during a recent demonstration flight, calling the experience “very impressive.”
He also noted the intuitive design of the aircraft, citing discussions with test pilots who claimed that its control systems are advanced enough to allow almost anyone to learn to operate the vehicle with ease. “The aircraft almost flies itself,” Griffiths said, highlighting the transformative potential of the technology. “I believe this will be the future of personal mobility.”
The DXV vertiport project is a collaboration between Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), UK-based Skyports Infrastructure, and U.S.-based Joby Aviation, the manufacturer of the electric air taxi expected to launch operations by the first quarter of 2026. The facility is the first to receive design approval under the UAE’s newly implemented Vertiport Regulations.
Dubai’s vision for urban air mobility doesn’t stop at DXV. Skyports and RTA are also developing three additional vertiport locations, strategically positioned at Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina. These sites will form the core of the city’s first air taxi network.
Flights are expected to be carried out by Joby Aviation’s eVTOL aircraft, which is currently undergoing advanced certification with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and seeking regulatory approval in the UAE. Last month, Dubai successfully completed the first regional test flight of the Joby aerial taxi.
According to the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), DXV marks a significant milestone in the nation’s advanced air mobility strategy. The GCAA granted design approval for the site earlier this year and is overseeing the regulatory framework for future vertiport development.
Griffiths believes the evolution of air taxis will be fast and far-reaching. “It won’t be too many steps before we see air taxis flying autonomously point to point between different destinations,” he said. “Over time, it will be transformative. We won’t remember how we used to travel in traditional taxis.”
