Joby Aviation announced this week, it has signed a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), which lays the groundwork for Joby to establish and scale air taxi services in the capital of the United Arab Emirates and beyond, reports a press release.
The MOU, signed at the DRIFTx inaugural event, held at the Las Marina Circuit on April 26th-27th, “demonstrates the breadth of support available to Joby as part of their participation in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster and builds on Joby’s existing commitments to the UAE, including the exclusive right to operate air taxi services in Dubai, which the company expects to start as early as next year,” explains the release. “The agreement also unlocks the potential for inter-emirate air taxi services, for example, between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.”
https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/transport/driftx-underway-at-yas-marina-circuit-in-abu-dhabi/
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, commented, “The agreement demonstrates the incredible momentum behind the adoption of clean flight across the UAE. We remain deeply impressed by their commitment to building out a world-class aviation ecosystem in the Emirate and are looking forward to delivering a fantastic experience for our future customers in Abu Dhabi.”
His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of DMT, added, “Abu Dhabi aims to spearhead the advancement and implementation of the next era of advanced mobility solutions.” He continued, “Through the Emirate’s SAVI cluster and this visionary partnership with Joby, we are not only laying the foundation for cutting-edge air taxi services but also shaping the future of transportation; igniting a journey where the sky is no longer the limit, but the beginning of endless possibilities.”
Joby’s aircraft, which is on display for the first time in Abu Dhabi at DRIFTx, is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour with zero operating emissions and a low acoustic footprint. Its maximum range of 100 miles enables fast and clean air travel both within Abu Dhabi and across the wider UAE, with a journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai taking around 30 minutes compared with around two hours by car during rush hour.
The U.S‑based eVTOL company has been working closely with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE to define a path to support the region in becoming world leaders in the introduction of air taxis.
The release continues, “The GCAA regulatory framework builds upon FAA standards with additional company testing and analysis alongside a high level of regulator oversight and an ongoing review process to ensure safety for early operations. Inter-emirate travel would require additional approval from the GCAA.”
(Credit: Business Wire)
His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), remarked, “The development of an advanced industrial and manufacturing base is a core driver of Abu Dhabi’s ‘economic diversification 2.0’ agenda. It will strengthen the Emirate’s position as the region’s most competitive industrial hub by increasing access to financing, enhancing ease of doing business and attracting foreign direct investment.”
He continued, “Smart and autonomous vehicles, in particular, are experiencing rapid growth, buoyed by the launch of the SAVI cluster, which leverages Abu Dhabi’s world-class infrastructure to scale the operations of global companies. Joby’s expansion into Abu Dhabi is a testament to the success of this strategy.”
H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi DCT, said, “The MOU aligns with our Tourism Strategy 2030, which underscores our commitment to fostering sustainable growth and strategic development in the travel and tourism sector. The introduction of scale air taxi services marks a significant addition, enhancing accessibility to natural attractions, tourist hotspots and architectural landmarks, thereby elevating overall visitor experiences.”
DRIFTx is “an international thought-leadership and exhibition platform” dedicated to advancing the future of smart, autonomous and sustainable mobility across air, land and sea. Supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Abu Dhabi’s SAVI cluster, DRIFTx is a leading global event to showcase the latest in advanced urban mobility, driving discussions, collaboration and innovation across the sector.
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