Joby Aviation (JOBY) begins piloted eVTOL flights in the United Arab Emirates [Video]

International eVTOL developer Joby Aviation has hit a key milestone overseas, as it moves closer to commercial air taxi operations. This morning, the company shared news that it has begun eVTOL flights in the United Arab Emirates with a pilot onboard, a key step in the necessary certification process. Peep the flight footage from Joby below.

Joby Aviation ($JOBY) continues to advance as a leader in the global eVTOL landscape. So far, the Santa Cruz, California-based aviation specialist has proven it has the tech and financial backing to evolve into scaled eVTOL production en route to commercialization and paid air taxi flights on multiple continents.

Joby completed its first flight with a pilot onboard in October 2023, quickly leading to a demonstration in New York City to tease a future of full-fledged eVTOL air taxi operations initially planned for sometime in 2025.

In the fall of 2024, Joby took an experimental eVTOL air taxi to Japan for its first international demonstration flight above Shizuoka with a beautiful view of Mt. Fuji as its backdrop, through a long-standing partnership with Toyota.

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Earlier in 2024, Joby announced a definitive agreement with the government of Dubai to begin air taxi operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including exclusive rights to aerial operations in the country’s capital for six years.

Most recently, Joby has begun operating piloted flights in the UAE, demonstrating the commercial readiness of its eVTOL tech as it looks to begin full-fledged air taxi rides in the region next year.

Joby pilots flights ahead of commercialization in UAE

Per Joby, its eVTOL air taxi aircraft has completed a series of piloted, vertical-takeoff-and-landing flights in Dubai. The company is calling this a first for the eVTOL sector, marking the start of commercial market readiness efforts in the UAE. Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt spoke about the latest eVTOL flight milestone:

The United Arab Emirates is a launchpad for a global revolution in how we move. In addition to building a performant aircraft, we’ve also been maturing our program for anticipated passenger service with global operational capabilities and scalable, durable manufacturing. Our flights and operational footprint in Dubai are a monumental step toward weaving air taxi services into the fabric of daily life worldwide. With our visionary partners, we’re igniting a future where quiet, clean flight is the new normal, and we’re demonstrating the leadership of American innovation on the global stage.

The start of piloted eVTOL flights in the Middle East is also a forward step in Joby’s “three-pronged commercialization strategy,” which consists of direct operations, sales, and regional partnerships. Some of those partnerships include Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), and the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) – all of which were involved in the 2024 agreement mentioned above.

Looking ahead, Joby intends to eventually begin commercial air taxi services at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Downtown, and is already constructing the necessary vertiport infrastructure to make that network a reality.

Joby also shared that the DXB to Palm Jumeirah flights are expected to take only 12 minutes instead of a 45-minute car ride. As you may recall, Joby’s current eVTOL aircraft can transport a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph (~320 km/h). Commercial air taxi flights are expected to begin in Dubai in Q1 of 2026, starting with departures from DXB.

As promised, see Joby’s b-roll of the Dubai test flights in the video below”