Dubai: Autonomous Flying Taxis Starting in 2023?

Faced with numerous projects for autonomous flying taxi services, Dubai is working on future regulations in anticipation of a possible launch in 2023.

Neither an airplane nor a helicopter, the VTOL (or electric eVTOL) is one of the candidates for future mobility. However, these vertically taking-off and autonomous craft create a legal void that needs to be filled.

A regulatory framework to build

Exactly, Dubai is officially working on addressing this gap. The country’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a forum to study future laws that will regulate this type of vehicle.

The emirate is already strict on drones, which are prohibited from flying over airports, military zones, or residential areas. They also require the presence of an observer to ensure data protection. Naturally, authorities will be much stricter with these VTOLs, they are studying “French and American models”. The three main areas to develop are “registration procedures, operational aspects, and liability in case of damages”.

“Such laws will create a legal framework to support sustainable development, advanced technology, and the use of artificial intelligence in Dubai’s infrastructure,” states Shehab Bu Shehab, director of the legal department. “The process is very important because drones pose a significant risk factor in air traffic if they are left unregulated and uncontrolled.”

Flying taxis in Dubai in 2023?

Dubai has not announced when the first autonomous flying taxis will be able to operate. A few days ago, Bellwether’s Volar conducted its first test flights (see video). For real service, it will probably be necessary to wait until 2023, when the first operators are expected to launch.

Among them, it’s perhaps Joby Aviation that could inaugurate the skies. The American manufacturer has acquired Uber Elevate’s subsidiary and aims for its first deployment in 2023. Its eVTOL would be capable of flying 240 kilometers and reaching 320 km/h. France hopes to have concrete results by the 2024 Paris Olympics, while Japan expects 2025.

Also read: Autonomous car: what if Geely outran Tesla?