Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY), a leader in developing electric air taxis for commercial use, has taken a significant step towards becoming the first certified electric air taxi operator in the United Arab Emirates.
At the International Civil Aviation Organization’s inaugural Advanced Air Mobility Summit in Montreal, Canada, Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt presented a Letter of Intent to His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), marking the start of Joby’s Air Operator Certificate application process.
In February 2024, Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in Dubai, positioning the city as a leader in next-generation, clean, and quiet air mobility.
Further solidifying its presence in the UAE, Joby expanded its partnership in April 2024 through a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Municipalities and Transport – Abu Dhabi (DMT), the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DED), and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). This agreement will help Joby establish and scale air taxi services in Abu Dhabi and beyond.
Bevirt remarked, “The UAE is showing remarkable enthusiasm for adopting clean flight technologies, and we’re thrilled to partner with the GCAA and other stakeholders to build one of the world’s first electric air taxi networks. Our revolutionary aircraft will provide fast, clean, and quiet transportation.”
H.E. Saif Al Suwaidi added, “Joby Aviation’s Letter of Intent represents a major milestone in the UAE’s efforts to lead in EVTOL operations. Our support for these advanced technologies highlights our commitment to pioneering air mobility solutions for the future of transportation. We look forward to collaborating with Joby Aviation to uphold the highest standards of safety and efficiency as we move toward commercial EVTOL operations.”
The Air Operator Certificate, issued by the GCAA, is essential for operating commercial air transport in the UAE. Joby will undergo a five-stage application process that includes developing comprehensive air taxi operating manuals, facility inspections, and GCAA observations of pilot and aircraft mechanic training as well as flight operations.
Having previously completed a similar process to obtain its U.S. Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in May 2022, Joby has been refining its air taxi operations in the U.S. using its proprietary ElevateOS software system.
Joby’s electric air taxi, capable of carrying a pilot and four passengers at speeds up to 200 miles per hour, is expected to drastically reduce travel time between Dubai International Airport and Palm Jumeirah from 45 minutes by car to just 10 minutes.