It seems like the city of Dubai is leaving no stone unturned in the race to become the first city in the world to fully integrate drone technology into its lower skies.

The follows the announcement by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, of Dubai, at the World Government Summit 2023 that he has approved for development the vertiport design proposals by Skyports Infrastructure.

The vertiports are part of the Dubai Road and Transport Authority’s (RTA) vision for the city’s future air mobility infrastructure network.

The ports will provide landing and take-off zones for passenger and delivery drones, for easy connection of people to various places in the city.

This vision was jointly presented to city fathers by the RTA, Skyports Infrastructure and electric-Vertical take-off and landing (e-VTOL) aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation at a closed presentation ahead of the start of the World Government Summit, an annual three-day event which brings together international government officials and business leaders.

Basically, the air mobility exposition demonstrates the RTA and Skyports Infrastructure’s planned roadmap for developing a vertiport network in Dubai, scheduled for launch by the year 2026. It includes a concept for how future vertiport infrastructure may look and how it will integrate with existing transportation, which includes the RTA’s Dubai Metro network and Dubai International Airport.

Skyports and partners have proposed four vertiport sites located near Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina; as these initial locations easily connect four of Dubai’s most popular and populous areas, providing high-speed, zero-emissions connectivity.

“We are honoured to have received such strong endorsement of our Dubai vertiport vision from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed,” said Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports.

“The appetite for technology innovation and infrastructure expansion in Dubai makes it a hugely promising environment for the launch of advanced air mobility. We’re excited to continue working with the RTA to make our joint vision of an integrated vertiport network a reality in 2026.”

Skyports also presented an architectural model of the vertiport near Dubai International Airport. Joby Aviation, which last week became the first eVTOL aircraft manufacturer to complete the second stage in the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) aircraft type certification process, also made a presentation to promote the opportunities by aerial mobility in Dubai.

“The RTA’s plan for aerial taxis is in line with the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25 percent of all trips in Dubai driverless by 2030,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer of The Public Transport Agency at RTA.

“The project aims to roll out a new mobility service driven by pioneering technology to ease the mobility of individuals across urban areas in a safe, smooth, and sustainable manner integrated with the public transport network in Dubai. The service is set to be operational by 2026.”