Dubai is advancing its vision of advanced air mobility with the commencement of its first commercial vertiport at Dubai International Airport (DXB), which accommodates around 90 million passengers each year. This initiative, led by Joby Aviation1 in collaboration with Skyports2 and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), marks a significant step towards integrating electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into the city's transportation network. The DXB vertiport is one of four planned locations, with additional sites at Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, and Dubai Marina, aiming to launch services by early 2026.

The planned vertiport locations are strategically positioned to enhance connectivity across Dubai3:

• Palm Jumeirah: Approximately 16 miles from DXB, with an estimated flight time of less than 9 minutes.
• Downtown Dubai: Approximately 8 miles from DXB, with an estimated flight time of less than 5 minutes.
• Dubai Marina: Approximately 21 miles from DXB, with an estimated flight time of less than 12 minutes.

Image: Joby Aviation

For aviation insurers, Dubai’s vertiport network offers a valuable model for how eVTOL operations might unfold in major cities worldwide, connecting airports to important hubs. By maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety and seamlessly integrating with existing aircraft operations, Dubai’s approach could help shape best practices in eVTOL insurance and risk management as similar operations begin to scale worldwide.

1 Joby Announces Beginning of Work on First Dubai Vertiport

2 Skyports and RTA break ground on first vertiport in Dubai

3 Distances and flight times are estimated and are not official figures provided by the RTA, Joby, or Skyports.

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