Flying taxis closer to takeoff as Abu Dhabi approves design for hybrid heliport

The UAE has approved the design for the country’s first hybrid heliport, marking a step forward in the rollout of flying taxi services planned to begin by 2026

The heliport will be located at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port.

It's part of the broader Abu Dhabi Air Taxi project and is designed to accommodate both conventional helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced.

It is expected to offer faster transit options for visitors arriving by sea, with direct access to nearby landmarks such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Cultural District.

Developed in partnership between Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Falcon Aviation Services, and Archer Aviation, the site was chosen for its proximity to key tourist destinations and high foot traffic, with Zayed Port welcoming more than 650,000 cruise passengers annually.

Archer CEO Adam Goldstein highlighted that adapting existing aviation sites, like the cruise terminal heliport, is a key strategy for accelerating air taxi deployment. “It allows us to move both quickly and safely — getting critical infrastructure ready ahead of our planned commercial air taxi launch,” he said.

The heliport’s upgrade comes amid growing interest in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) as cities globally explore new transport models to ease congestion and reduce emissions. The Abu Dhabi Air Taxi project aims to connect major parts of the city through short-hop flights using quiet, battery-powered aircraft.