The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced it granted operational approval for the UAE’s first vertiport.
This will enable the operation of flying transportation vehicles, like the envisioned flying taxi service connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai, facilitating their takeoff and landing maneuvers.
This approval, announced at the DRIFTx event in Abu Dhabi, reflects the UAE’s ongoing efforts to advance autonomous technologies in the transportation industry.
The GCAA‘s approval demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to exploring innovative transportation solutions. Additionally, the vertiport, supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and the Emirate’s Smart & Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, serves as a hub for showcasing the latest advancements in autonomous transportation.
Dedication to expediting advanced air mobility in the UAE
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director-general of the GCAA, commented on the announcement, highlighting the demonstration of the GCAA and industry’s dedication to expediting advanced air mobility in the UAE. He also emphasized the proactive nature of their approach in publishing national regulations and establishing the foundation for the secure and efficient integration of vertiports into the urban infrastructure. This significant milestone marks an initial stride towards harnessing the complete potential of advanced air mobility and promoting innovation within the transportation sector, he added.
Innovative transportation solutions
For his part, Badr Al-Olama, director-general of ADIO, said the GCAA has played a crucial role in leading the way for the establishment of standards and guidelines that are shaping the emerging advanced mobility sector. He expressed the intention to collaborate in positioning Abu Dhabi as the hub for the advancement of intelligent and autonomous mobility solutions. Al-Olama further highlighted the significance of the UAE’s first vertiport as a major milestone in innovative transportation solutions, utilizing Abu Dhabi’s exceptional infrastructure and ushering in a new era of urban mobility.
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Collaborative effort
The successful approval of the UAE’s inaugural vertiport reflects the collaborative efforts between the GCAA, as well as key stakeholders in the transportation and technology sectors of the UAE. According to GCAA, this was made possible due to the groundwork laid by the GCAA’s introduction of the world’s first national regulation on vertiports in March 2023. Moreover, this regulatory framework provided the necessary foundation for the development and operation of the vertiport, contributing to the UAE’s growing prominence in the field of autonomous transportation.
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