The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has officially approved the design of the country’s first heliport for flying taxis. The design was accepted today for a hybrid heliport located at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port, as reported by Khaleej Times.

This hybrid heliport will facilitate both traditional helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which are intended for use as flying taxis in the UAE. The site was selected due to its strategic location at the busy Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, which welcomes over 650 000 visitors annually, serving as a key hub for cruises in the region.

The new hybrid heliport will be the first in the UAE to allow both types of aircraft to take off and land. Developed in strategic collaboration with AD Ports Group, Falcon Aviation Services, and Archer Aviation, this facility marks a significant advancement in air transport within the emirate. Test flights for the flying taxis are expected to commence in the coming months, with Archer, the US-based eVTOL manufacturer, confirming plans to introduce its Midnight aircraft in the capital this year, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA).