Since 2017, the government of Dubai, the unofficial commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates, has been talking about the possibility of implementing a full-fledged flying taxi within the city, but earlier, of course, these were only far-reaching plans, because the technology did not allow anything like this to be implemented. But the situation has probably changed dramatically because Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, officially announced the resumption of the flying taxi program, and today, February 13, the government even announced firm plans to implement the latest type of vehicle by 2026 year.
At the same time, it is important to clarify that the UAE government and local production facilities have nothing to do with the creation of the vehicle itself – the promotional video that was published on social networks shows an electric flying taxi from Joby Aviation, which is located in the United States. The same aircraft was recently presented at the World Government Summit in Dubai, so, apparently, this particular model is preferred. So far, there is no information about the desire to use the EHang 184 and XPeng X2 models from Chinese manufacturers, although, on the other hand, no contracts have been concluded so far – everything can still change.
Most likely, the Dubai government will make a decision on the choice of a particular aircraft based on flight tests, as many electric flying taxis are still only at the ground testing stage and have not taken off. Moreover, in order to use these flying taxis, you first need to build the necessary infrastructure – the city government has already announced that it plans to build four “vertiports”: at Dubai International Airport, near the Palm Jumeirah artificial archipelago, in the city center and in the vicinity of the Marina.
“We believe that these are attractive areas with business and tourist centers that can create significant demand for flying taxis,” the authors of the project said.
Surprisingly, the authors of the project are confident that the price of using such a taxi will not be so high, although this is certainly relative. For example, experts believe that the price of a ride in an electric flying taxi will be on par with the price of a ride in a private limousine or slightly higher. If we talk about a more or less real price, one kilometer in a limousine in Dubai costs 0.5 dollars, and the cost of an electric taxi flight is estimated at 30% higher. It sounds very attractive, especially in the role of an attraction, and not an everyday means of transportation. And, importantly, the first time the flying taxi will be manned.
Probably, when the infrastructure is established, and the vehicle passes the necessary tests with the pilot, the authorities will think about the implementation of unmanned flying taxis – this is already being talked about, but so far for a more distant future.
Source: Trash Box
I’m Meagan Diaz, a news writer and author at World Stock Market. My main focus is on technology and stock market trends, and I’m passionate about helping readers stay informed on the ever-changing landscape. I bring extensive knowledge of the industry to my work as well as a knack for storytelling that makes my articles both accessible and engaging.
