Photos: UAE’s first operational vertiport unveiled in Abu Dhabi

The UAE's first operational vertiport for vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) has been unveiled in Abu Dhabi.

The temporary vertiport facility, constructed in line with the latest industry standards and regulations set by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), offers a glimpse into Abu Dhabi’s strategy to deliver one of the world’s most advanced sectors for eVTOLs by 2026.

It was unveiled at DRIFTx, an international event showcasing smart and sustainable urban mobility across air, land and sea.

Abu Dhabi Mobility (AD Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport will regulate the advanced air mobility sector in Abu Dhabi by working in conjunction with the GCAA.

The GCAA's initiative in establishing the world's first national regulation on vertiports last year paved the way for advanced air mobility in the UAE, ensuring the availability of safe and suitable infrastructure to accommodate eVTOL aircraft.

"This bespoke regulation covers design, operations and certification provisions for vertiports on land and in sea, demonstrating commitment to fostering innovation while prioritizing safety and regulatory compliance in the rapidly evolving aviation landscape," said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA.

Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), added: "The collaboration between Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and AD Mobility will see vertiports setup in strategic locations across Abu Dhabi, including major business hubs and tourism destinations. Once complete, the vertiport network will be a key enabler of Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster."

"Centred in Masdar City, it provides state-of-the art facilities and value-add services within an enabling regulatory environment for companies developing advanced technologies across air, land, and sea mobility applications. This is an exciting time for mobility in Abu Dhabi," he said.

ADIO engaged with experts in the advanced air mobility sector that have gathered in the capital for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Mobily Week and outlined the commercial opportunities available to develop the capital’s vertiport infrastructure network through the public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

The plans announced are set to bolster Abu Dhabi’s SAVI cluster and kickstart the development of required infrastructure to operationalise air taxis.

SAVI offers access to academia, sandboxes, R&D labs, testing and certification facilities, large scale workshops, hangars, manufacturing facilities, and global logistics integration.

This has attracted some of the world’s most innovative eVTOL companies, including Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation.