At the event, it was made public that Archer Aviation had entered into a foundational agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to expedite the launch of commercial air taxi operations in the UAE, set to commence as early as 2025. The first commercial vertiport—the touchdown point used by eVTOL crafts—will also be finalized within the same year. Nevertheless, various competitors are contending for a spot in the nascent air taxi market of the country. Some, like Joby Aviation, are also making progress with government entities. Throughout the two-day exhibition, a comprehensive agreement was inked between Joby Aviation and three Abu Dhabi government divisions, indicating backing for the establishment and expansion of the OEM’s air taxi service not only in Abu Dhabi but across the entire UAE.
In the field of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the UAE is striving for a leading position. Following multiple, largely triumphant showcases of the technology at the inaugural eVTOL and autonomous mobility event in the country, DriftX 2024, there were numerous agreements, collaborations, and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) forged between crucial government entities and some of the major companies in the eVTOL sector. These entities comprise Archer Aviation, Vspace, and Joby Aviation.