A white aerial transportation vehicle with six propellors is positioned adjacent to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest edifice globally. The city of Dubai aspires to establish an aerial taxi network by the year 2026. This network, constructed by Skyports, aims to transport passengers to prominent urban destinations utilizing compact electric flying vehicles. Furthermore, various other aerial taxi services are also planning to commence operations in major cities worldwide. Dubai envisions itself as the pioneering city in the realm of aerial taxis, aiming to achieve a fully functional aerial taxi network by 2026. The CEO of Skyports, responsible for constructing landing infrastructure for these airborne taxis, expressed his belief on Wednesday that Dubai would be the first city globally to successfully integrate a “fully-developed network” of aerial taxis into its public transportation system, as reported by the Khaleej Times, an English-language newspaper headquartered in the United Arab Emirates.

Skyports initially announced its plans to construct vertiports, which serve as launching pads for airborne taxis, in February, as stated in a press release on their official website. The company intends to build four landing sites in close proximity to Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina.

According to Skyports’ press release, these initial locations will establish connectivity between four of Dubai’s most popular and densely populated areas, offering high-speed and environmentally friendly transportation options.

Joby Aviation, a United States-based startup specializing in electric takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), has partnered with Skyports to support this initiative, as mentioned in the press release.

The flying car industry is projected to reach a value of $150 billion by 2035, and various startups are actively promoting the concept to businesses and governments. They argue that this technology has the potential to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution in major cities. These compact aerial vehicles operate on electric power, and their propellers are designed to produce minimal noise compared to conventional helicopters.

A race among companies is underway to establish their own networks of short-term personal helicopter rides in places like New York, Los Angeles, and Paris.

Airlines, including Delta, American, and United are also investing in futuristic transportation to take passengers to and from the airport.