New York Stock Exchange-listed Joby Aviation plans to soft launch air taxi services in Dubai by early 2025.

The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft maker signed an agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA), which gives it the exclusive right to operate air taxis in the emirate for six years

The operation of air taxi services will officially start by early 2026.

Joby also signed an agreement with Skyports to design, build and operate four initial vertiport sites across Dubai.

RTA, Skyports and Joby have worked together to identify Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Dubai Downtown as the launch locations for the air taxi service.

Joby’s aircraft, which was displayed in the region for the first time at the ongoing World Governments Summit in Dubai, is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 322 km per hour.

A journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take 10 minutes compared with 45 minutes by car.

Joby and the RTA have been working closely with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority to ensure a regulatory route to support the introduction of air taxis.

To support the development of its operations in Dubai, Joby has established a local operating entity and plans to recruit locally for most of its operational team.

JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, said that the company is laying the groundwork for expanding its service across the UAE.

In November 2023, Joby’s aircraft became the first electric air taxi to fly in New York City.

The California-headquartered company has raised over $2 billion in funding, including investments from Toyota, Delta Air Lines, SK Telecom, Uber and Baillie Gifford.