Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), the fourth largest of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), signed an agreement with Joby Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure that will launch advanced air mobility taxi services there by 2027. Its first vertiport is scheduled to be constructed at the centrally located Al Marjan Island, which will be home to a resort set to open in 2027.
Service is expected to start with an inter-emirate route linking RAK and Dubai. The trip from Dubai International Airport to Al Marjan Island takes more than an hour by car. With Joby’s all-electric air taxi—which is anticipated to carry its first passengers in Dubai next year—the trip would be less than 15 minutes.
In step with RAK’s 2030 mobility master plan, the new service will meet the growing demand for fast and convenient transport in the emirate and throughout the entire UAE.
“This partnership reflects [RAK’s] strategic vision to shape the future of mobility by integrating advanced transport solutions within its urban and tourism ecosystem,” said Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority director general Esmaeel Hasan Alblooshi. “This step is an extension of [RAK’s] comprehensive mobility plan of 2030, which focuses on innovation, sustainability, and the integration of transport modes.”
Alblooshi added that the launch of air taxi services is an addition that provides “fast, efficient, and eco-friendly mobility options.”