UAE Aviation Authority Reviews Air Taxi Standards with Joby and Archer in California
By Business & Property Desk2 min read
Regulator’s Technical Visits in California
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) held technical workshops with Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation in California on certification and airworthiness for air taxi services, as reported on Thu 15 Oct 2026, 4:28 PM.
The GCAA delegation was led by Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni, assistant director general for Aviation Safety Affairs, and included senior representatives from the authority’s Flight Operations and Airworthiness teams.
The delegation held separate sessions with the Joby and Archer teams, along with technical workshops covering certification and airworthiness requirements, as well as operational matters linked to each company’s air taxi programme.
Agreements and Test Flights
The GCAA said the visits allowed it to discuss the requirements directly with both companies and to follow up on the latest developments and next steps for air taxi operations in the UAE.
The authority described the visits as part of its ongoing cooperation with Joby and Archer, supporting continued work to complete the requirements for the safe and efficient operation of air taxis and the integration of Advanced Air Mobility into the UAE aviation sector.
Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority in February 2024, giving the company exclusive rights to run air taxi services in the emirate for six years, with a commercial launch targeted for 2026.
Archer partnered with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office; its Midnight aircraft completed its first UAE test flight at Al Bateen Executive Airport, just days after Joby’s test flight in Dubai. Abu Dhabi is Archer’s first planned launch market.
Both companies have completed piloted flights; Archer’s longest covered about 55 miles in 31 minutes, while Joby’s first lasted around 12 minutes over 10 nautical miles.
Certification Timeline and Next Steps
In an earlier Khaleej Times report, the GCAA said air taxi certification in the UAE would be completed in the third quarter of 2026.
Joby’s UAE team has said passengers will be carried only once all safety and certification requirements are met, including an Air Operator Certificate from the GCAA.
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