Joby stakes its claim in Saudi Arabia as Abu Dhabi works to build a vertiport network
November 13, 2025
With the Middle East fast becoming the global focal point for the development of advanced air mobility (AAM) solutions, two more major announcements have shed further light on the region’s aspirations in this regard.
California-based Joby Aviation has revealed that it is working with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to have its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft certified for full-scale operations in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled plans to develop a network of eVTOL vertiports to accelerate the growth of advanced air mobility in the country.
Get the latest eVTOL and AAM news at AGN
Joby signs deal with Saudi Arabia
On November 12, Joby Aviation, a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced plans for the rapid deployment of Joby’s eVTOL aircraft in the Kingdom.
Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between GACA and Joby, the US company plans to use Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification standards as a foundation to create a streamlined approval process for Joby’s aircraft in Saudi Arabia.
With the signing of the MoU, Saudi Arabia joins the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, and the UAE as a further key launch market for Joby’s forthcoming air taxi services.
Focusing on three core initiatives
To support the development of the Kingdom’s air taxi regulatory framework, Joby and GACA will focus on three core initiatives based on Joby’s FAA certification efforts –
- Provide technical expertise across type design, production, and operational domains to inform the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework that ensures the safe, efficient, and scalable deployment of advanced air mobility aircraft within the Kingdom.
- Collaboration on airworthiness standards, ensuring an efficient validation process of the FAA Type Certification.
- Development and harmonisation of key regulations to enable the initial phase of operations, including pilot licensing, maintenance, and airspace integration frameworks.
“We’ve been collaborating with the FAA since 2016 on the certification and the commercial operations of our aircraft, and we’re now putting those standards to work on a global scale,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “We look forward to partnering with GACA on this bold endeavour: to bring quiet, fast, and convenient air mobility to Saudi Arabia.”
Responding to Bevirt’s comments, Captain Sulaiman bin Saleh Al-Muhaimedi, Executive Vice President of Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, said that the partnership represents a critical step in the Kingdom’s AAAM ambitions.
He added that the initiative with Joby, “reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership in shaping the future of aviation.”
Alongside the certification of its aircraft with GACA, Joby has also entered into a commercial partnership with Saudi business conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel to introduce up to 200 Joby aircraft – a contract said to be worth up to $1 billion.
Both developments are seen as by-products of renewed economic cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia following a visit by President Trump to the Kingdom in May.
Joby progresses towards certification
In terms of the development of its eVTOL programme, Joby says it is progressing toward regulatory approval of its aircraft. On November 5, the company announced it was nearing the final phase of FAA Type Certification.
This involves the start of ‘power-on’ testing of the first of several FAA-conforming aircraft to be built for the Type Inspection Authorisation (TIA) process.
With this milestone being reached, Joby can begin conducting thousands of hardware and software integration tests in preparation for “for credit” flight testing with FAA test pilots operating the aircraft.
Abu Dhabi invests in vertiport network
Yet it is not just Saudi Arabia that is accelerating the development of AAM in the region. Abu Dhabi is also taking significant steps in this regard by launching the world’s first vertiport network.
Announced on 10 November, the initiative has been devised to connect key destinations across Abu Dhabi with eVTOL aircraft offering fast, low-emission travel options.
With the first eVTOL flights expected in the skies over Abu Dhabi in 2026, the roadmap outlines a phased rollout of at least ten “state-of-the-art” public vertiports located at key urban and transit locations.
According to the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the vertiport infrastructure will enable the smooth operation of these aircraft, linking crucial business, tourism, and residential destinations within the emirate.
Confirmed locations so far include Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI), both of which will serve as major hubs for the network.
In addition to these, other key sites and intercity routes are set to be revealed in the near future, further expanding the reach of the vertiport system.
This is likely to include landing sites such as Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, and Abu Dhabi Island.
The vertiport project will be a collaboration between the ADIO, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), and Abu Dhabi Airports (ADA).
According to the consortium behind the plans, “these vertiports will seamlessly integrate into the emirate’s existing transportation infrastructure, improving connectivity and accessibility throughout the city.”
Abu Dhabi promotes sustainable transport
The project aligns with Abu Dhabi’s broader vision of promoting sustainable transport and innovation-led economic diversification, positioning the city as a global leader in next-generation mobility.
With over ten vertiports planned, the network has been designed to transform how people travel within the emirate, making travel across the state more environmentally friendly as well as more efficient.
“By linking these major destinations with quick, efficient air routes, the vertiport network will drastically reduce travel times,” said the ADIO. “The smart systems managed by Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre will ensure smooth digital and ground connectivity, enabling a truly integrated transport experience,” it added.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, said the initiative represents “the beginning of a new era” for the UAE’s aviation sector. “This reflects a qualitative leap in aviation infrastructure and reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to leading the global shift towards smarter and more sustainable mobility,” he said.
Badr Al-Olama, Director-General of ADIO, said the project highlights the emirate’s partnership-driven approach to building “future-defining industries”. “By integrating eVTOL infrastructure into our transport system, we are accelerating smart mobility while enhancing quality of life,” he said.
The ADIO commented that the integration of new eVTOL aircraft into Abu Dhabi’s transport system would provide a unique solution to the city’s growing demand for efficient, low-emission travel options.
It added that as the vertiport network grows, “It will not only transform how residents and visitors travel but also solidify Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader in modern, sustainable mobility.”
The Middle East leads the way in eVTOL adoption
With both Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi taking major steps to adopt the new opportunities that eVTOL operations offer, the countries join Dubai, which has been at the forefront of eVTOL adoption and is likely to be the first to introduce eVTOL flights in 2026.
Yet, with the others close behind, 2026 is likely to be a transformative year for sustainable aviation across the region.
Featured image: Joby Aviation
