Abu Dhabi is officially one step closer to making flying taxis a reality. Recent test flights in the UAE capital showcased the exciting potential of autonomous aerial mobility, bringing the futuristic vision of air taxis into sharper focus.
Organized by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the test flights were conducted in collaboration with leading drone manufacturer EHang and FinTech company Multi Level Group (MLG). This milestone marks what officials are calling a “pivotal step” in integrating flying taxis into everyday life.
“We’re turning future mobility into tangible nation-building,” said Badr Al Olama, Director General of ADIO. “With EHang and MLG, we are proving that urban air taxis will be a part of everyday life, here in Abu Dhabi and around the world.”
The trials assessed how the autonomous aircraft perform in real-world conditions, including Abu Dhabi’s extreme climate, and examined key operational aspects such as airspace coordination, vertiport logistics, and route planning.
This development follows a strategic agreement between EHang and UAE-based Monarch Airplane Manufacturing to establish an aircraft production plant in Abu Dhabi—further anchoring the emirate’s role as a hub for next-generation transportation technologies.
“This cooperation reinforces our vision to lead the autonomous aerial mobility sector from the UAE to Africa and the Middle East,” said Mohamed Salah, CEO of Advanced Mobility Hub, a subsidiary of MLG.
The journey toward public-use flying taxis is gaining momentum. Archer Aviation, a U.S.-based air taxi company, is also eyeing Abu Dhabi as its launchpad, with plans to deploy its Midnight eVTOL aircraft in the region before the end of the year.
As the city moves rapidly toward smarter, cleaner, and more connected transport solutions, air taxis are no longer science fiction—they’re the next chapter in mobility innovation.
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Source: The National News
