Sheikh Hamdan reviews progress of Dubai's air taxi station

Dubai: Dubai is set to launch its first commercial air taxi service this year following a progress review of the world’s inaugural vertiport near Dubai International Airport.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, confirmed on Thursday that the station is ready and forms part of a wider network. The facility serves as the primary hub for a cross-city network that will include Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina, with the entire infrastructure project slated for completion by the end of December.

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Today, I reviewed the progress of Dubai’s air taxi station, the first of its kind in the world, located near Dubai International Airport. The station is ready and forms part of a wider network including Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina, which will be completed by the end… pic.twitter.com/cq0nvZbXAH

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) April 16, 2026

"This project is a key milestone in Dubai’s urban mobility journey, reducing travel time and bringing the city closer," the Crown Prince stated.

The initial station at the airport is projected to serve approximately 170,000 passengers annually. By bypassing traditional road congestion, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are expected to significantly cut transit times between the city's major commercial and residential hubs.

The project is the result of a coordinated effort between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and several international aviation partners. The timing of the progress review was aligned with World Public Transport Day on 17 April, highlighting the emirate's shift toward diversifying its transit portfolio.