Dubai’s ruler promises flying taxis by 2026, Could cost as little as an Uber ride

Plans for a flying taxi service in Dubai are taking shape again as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, announced on Sunday that air taxis would take to skies over Dubai by 2026. “Today, we approved the designs of flying taxi vertiports in Dubai which will operate within three years,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

A series of futuristic initiatives were announced and companies cycled through those promises as well, most timed to be included at Dubai’s annual World Government Summit, which saw this year’s edition begin Monday.

These air taxis would eventually cost as low as an Uber ride, opines Ahmed Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer of The Public Transport Agency at Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

“We believe that it will be not very far from the price of a normal Uber possibly, and that’s when really it becomes a normal service that anybody can use,” Bahrozyan was quoted by Khaleejtimes.

Eventually, we believe as the production of the vehicles increases, the cost of technology comes down, and we start having more demand. We are confident that as we go along, it will become a day-to-day mode of transport for many people living in the city.”

The flying taxis would offer about 240 km range and a top speed of 300 km/h, which according to Bahrozyan would allow intercity travel, such as Dubai to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Fujairah. If these become a reality soon, the travel time from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, for example, would be cut short to 30 minutes.

Source : arcattoscana