UAE Advances Flying Taxi Plans as Archer’s Midnight Receives Key Regulatory Approval
The UAE has moved a step closer to launching flying taxi operations after the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) approved the entry of Archer Aviation’s Midnight aircraft into a Restricted Type Certificate (RTC) programme.
The approval advances the regulatory pathway for the aircraft’s commercial entry into service in the UAE, making Archer the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer to transition into an RTC certification track with the UAE aviation authority.
The RTC programme establishes a framework that allows Archer to begin limited commercial operations while ensuring the Midnight aircraft is developed under internationally aligned airworthiness standards that support long-term operational viability in the UAE.
Archer is expected to launch flying taxi services in Abu Dhabi later this year.
The milestone follows years of technical collaboration between the GCAA and Archer, including inspections at Archer’s headquarters and flight-testing facilities in the United States, as well as in-country test flights involving the Midnight aircraft.
The initiative is supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) as part of efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a global hub for Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI).
As part of the next regulatory phase, the GCAA has also initiated Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and Production Organisation Approval (POA) processes for Archer. These approvals reflect confidence in the company’s engineering capabilities and safety management systems.
Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director General of the Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at the GCAA, said the authority remains committed to safely integrating advanced aviation technologies into UAE airspace.
According to the GCAA and Archer, progress has been made across eight operational workstreams critical to commercial readiness, including aircraft certification, maintenance, operations, flight crew training, airspace integration, vertiports, security, and oversight systems.
The Midnight aircraft is expected to operate in Abu Dhabi in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation, Archer’s local operating partner and one of the region’s major aviation companies.
Adam Goldstein said the UAE has emerged as one of the world’s most forward-looking markets for advanced aviation technologies, adding that the RTC programme marks a major step toward introducing electric air taxis in the country.
