Abu Dhabi is set to become the first city in the region to operate electric flying taxis, following a groundbreaking agreement with US-based Archer Aviation.

The announcement was made on Thursday, marking a significant step in the UAE’s commitment to advanced urban mobility solutions.

Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) has signed a deal with Archer Aviation to deploy its Midnight aircraft later this year, making ADA the first global Launch Edition customer.

The agreement was signed by Nader Al Hammadi, chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Badr Al Olama, director-general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).

Under the deal, ADA will fund the deployment of Midnight, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, solidifying Abu Dhabi’s leadership in next-generation transportation.

Also, read this

Saudi Arabia looks to air taxis for premium travel in Hajj

President Zardari confers Nishan-e-Pakistan on Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

Pakistani expat wins big in UAE lottery

The Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to cut down traditional 60- to 90-minute car commutes to just 10- to 20-minute flights.

“We have been observing the advancements in eVTOL technology for years, and we are proud to partner with Archer to bring this innovation to the UAE,” said Nader Al Hammadi.

“As the largest helicopter operator in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Aviation has the expertise to develop a scalable urban air mobility service. We are excited to lead the way in launching the region’s electric air taxi service, starting right here in Abu Dhabi.”

Beyond its launch in Abu Dhabi, ADA and Archer will collaborate to create a scalable operational model for deploying Midnight commercially in other early adopter markets.

Archer will also provide ADA with a team of pilots, technicians, and engineers to support the initial rollout. Additionally, the company plans to introduce an integrated software system, including a booking app, to streamline urban air mobility (UAM) operations.

“This is how we’ll bring Midnight from the manufacturing line to our first customers — and it’s a playbook we’ll run repeatedly as we scale our operations globally,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer.

“Thank you to Abu Dhabi Aviation for being our first Launch Edition customer. We have a big year ahead.”

The launch of Midnight in Abu Dhabi signals a major milestone in the evolution of sustainable air transportation, setting the stage for a future where urban commutes take to the skies.