US electric flying car manufacturer Archer is partnering with UAE’s Falcon Aviation to construct vertiports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, aiming to make the dream of flying cars a reality for UAE residents by 2025. The vertiports, serving as vertical airports, will facilitate travel between the two cities using Archer’s Midnight, a piloted four-passenger electric aircraft capable of quick successive flights with minimal charging breaks.
According to a Khaleej Times report, the initiative will kick off with the first vertiports located at the Falcon Heliport at Atlantis the Palm in Dubai and the Marina Mall heliport in Abu Dhabi’s Corniche. This innovative mode of transportation promises to reduce the current 60–90-minute car journey to just 10-30 minutes by air, offering a cost-effective, low-noise, and safe travel alternative.
Scheduled for launch in 2025, this venture marks Archer’s first international foray, positioning the UAE as a pioneer in urban air mobility. The Midnight aircraft will fly exclusively over water, providing passengers with breathtaking views of both cities and the Arabian Sea.
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s CEO, expressed enthusiasm about introducing the Midnight aircraft to the region, emphasizing the UAE’s potential to lead in urban air mobility. Captain Ramandeep Oberoi, CEO of Falcon Aviation, highlighted their longstanding leadership in helicopter passenger transport within the UAE.
Additionally, in February 2024, Joby Aviation, another US firm developing electric aircraft for commercial use, announced a partnership with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to introduce air taxi services by early 2026, targeting a 2025 launch.