In a first in UAE, a temporary vertiport facility for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOLs) aircraft was unveiled and operated magnificently on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island. Constructed in line with the latest industry standards and regulations set by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the facility offers a glance into Abu Dhabi’s approach to deliver one of the world’s most advanced sectors for eVTOLs by 2026.
Vertiport is a specific area supporting the vertical take-off and landing of aircraft without the need for a runway. The facility was revealed at DRIFTx, an international event showcasing smart and sustainable urban mobility across air, land and sea.
Abu Dhabi Mobility (AD Mobility), an associate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport will be working in partnership with the GCAA, and regulate the advanced air mobility sector in Abu Dhabi.
This came after permitting of the operational approval was announced the GCAA for the UAE’s first vertiport on Thursday morning. Later, during a panel discussion at DRIFTx, a top official from the GCAA revealed that Yas Island will feature the first vertiport in the country.
“We issued our first approval for vertiport operation here on Yas Island. So, this is a great achievement to see things moving into reality. Something futuristic is now becoming reality. I think we are very much ready for day one,” Aqeel Al Zarouni, assistant director-general of the aviation safety sector at the GCAA, said.
Between 4.30pm and 5pm, a two-passenger eVTOL aircraft with a capacity of 600kg took off and landed back after being inflight for about 20-25 minutes. Later, another eVTOL aircraft functioned successfully.
It was due to the GCAA’s initiative last year, in establishing the world’s first national regulation on vertiports that paved the way for advanced air mobility in the UAE, warranting the accessibility of safe and suitable infrastructure to accommodate eVTOL aircraft.
“This bespoke regulation covers design, operations and certification provisions for vertiports on land and in sea, demonstrating commitment to fostering innovation while prioritizing safety and regulatory compliance in the rapidly evolving aviation landscape,” said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA.
Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director General of AD Mobility, added: “The collaboration between Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and AD Mobility will see vertiports setup in strategic locations across Abu Dhabi, including major business hubs and tourism destinations. Once complete, the vertiport network will be a key enabler of Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster.”
SAVI offers access to academia, sandboxes, R&D labs, testing and certification facilities, large scale workshops, hangars, manufacturing facilities, and global logistics integration. This has fascinated some of the world’s most innovative eVTOL companies, including Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation.
