Abu Dhabi Eyes Commercial Air Taxi Launch by End of 2026, Introduces Unified Mobility Platform

Technology

Abu Dhabi Eyes Commercial Air Taxi Launch by End of 2026, Introduces Unified Mobility Platform

Abu Dhabi is moving closer to launching commercial electric air taxi services, with operations expected to begin by the end of 2026 or early 2027, according to the emirate's transport authorities. The announcement comes alongside plans to introduce a unified mobility platform that will allow residents to plan, book, and pay for journeys across multiple modes of transport through a single digital interface.

Speaking at the Forbes Middle East Building the Future Summit, Dr. Abdulla Hamad Al Ghfeli, Acting Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), outlined Abu Dhabi's vision of creating a fully integrated mobility ecosystem connecting land, maritime, and air transportation.

"The air taxi will soon start operating in Abu Dhabi by the end of this year or the beginning of next year," Al Ghfeli said during a panel discussion on the future of mobility.

The timeline positions Abu Dhabi among the world's first cities preparing to launch commercial electric air taxi services. The emirate has been collaborating with US-based Archer Aviation to deploy its Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with test flights already completed and supporting infrastructure under development.

Unified Mobility Platform

In addition to air taxi services, the ITC is preparing to launch a Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform within the coming months. The platform will integrate various transport options into a single application, enabling users to seamlessly plan, book, and pay for their journeys.

"If you are trying to go from any point to another, you will find this application helping you to start your trip with the right data, the right choices, and the right options," Al Ghfeli explained.

The platform will build on the ITC's recently introduced automated fare collection system, providing passengers with a seamless payment experience across different transport modes. Similar to the government's TAMM digital platform, the new solution aims to simplify travel by bringing multiple mobility services under one interface.

AI Driving Smarter Transport Planning

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly significant role in Abu Dhabi's transport strategy. According to Al Ghfeli, authorities are using AI-powered analytics to process data from population forecasts, housing developments, economic plans, taxis, buses, and road sensors to predict future travel demand and guide infrastructure investments.

The ITC has also established an integrated transport command platform that consolidates mobility data, enabling authorities to predict traffic conditions, respond more effectively to incidents, and optimise transport services across the emirate.

The system marks a shift from reactive traffic management toward predictive, data-driven operations.

Building an Integrated Transport Network

Al Ghfeli emphasised that the future of mobility depends on seamless integration between land, sea, and air transportation rather than treating each mode independently.

"We have to make sure that the points of interaction between all the three modes are there and accessible to the public," he said.

During the panel discussion, Capt. Saif Al Mheiri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime and Group Chief Sustainability and Risk Officer at AD Ports Group, highlighted the role of digital technologies in improving maritime logistics, reducing vessel waiting times, lowering fuel consumption, and cutting emissions.

Meanwhile, Frederico Justus, CEO for the Middle East and South Asia at Egis, stressed the importance of aligning urban planning with transport infrastructure through compact, mixed-use developments supported by high-quality public transport and active mobility networks.

The discussion underscored Abu Dhabi's broader ambition to build a technology-enabled, future-ready transport ecosystem capable of supporting emerging mobility solutions, including autonomous vehicles and commercial air taxis. The Integrated Transport Centre, recently rebranded as Abu Dhabi Mobility, continues to oversee land, aviation, and maritime transport across the emirate as it advances its long-term mobility strategy.