Skyports has received technical design approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for the first commercial vertiport in the United Arab Emirates, enabling the company to develop the Dubai International Vertiport (DXV) facility.
The DXV is the first facility to receive this approval under the new UAE Vertiport Regulations and is expected to begin air taxi operations in 2026. Another three vertiports are in the pipeline in collaboration with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Joby Aviation.
“The approval of the DXV Vertiport design advances the UAE’s leadership in adopting innovative aviation solutions,” said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA. “Aligned with the ambitious visions of the country’s wise leadership and supporting the Air Taxi Project set to launch in 2026, this project exemplifies our commitment to creating safe, secure and future-ready infrastructure. The GCAA is proud to play a central role in enabling transformative projects that will redefine urban mobility and set global benchmarks for integrating emerging aviation technologies.”
The design approval process assesses factors such as physical dimensions, layout, airspace considerations, obstacle environment, and Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS). In order to be granted the approval, Skyports had to demonstrate a rescue and firefighting strategy for battery and fuel fires.
“What we’re undertaking in Dubai – and driving in other regions – completely reimagines the way people travel around cities and between regions,” commented Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports. “This is all made possible through the development of new regulatory frameworks and guidelines, which ensure a compliant, safe, and scalable approach to aviation infrastructure. Today, with the GCAA, we’ve reached a key milestone for our flagship DXV facility, bringing us ever closer to launching commercial air taxi operations.”
Photo: Skyports
