Architects unveil design for a flying taxi ‘vertiport’ in Dubai

Foster + Partners, a leading UK architecture firm, has revealed a concept for a 'vertiport' terminal designed for air taxis and other vertical take-off and landing vehicles. This terminal would link key locations across Dubai, offering fast, eco-friendly travel options.

Created in partnership with Skyports Infrastructure, a leader in advanced air mobility (AAM), the design has received approval from Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The proposed vertiport would be located near Dubai International Airport (DXB) and seamlessly integrate with existing transport infrastructure.

David Summerfield, head of studio at Foster + Partners, expressed excitement in a press release: 'We are thrilled to contribute a vertiport concept to the rapidly evolving AAM sector, poised to revolutionize travel in Dubai.'

Summerfield further emphasized that the vertiport would connect to DXB and the Dubai Metro, providing smooth, sustainable travel throughout the city for both international and local passengers.

Renderings by Foster + Partners depict the terminal elevated on a platform, designed to accommodate take-off and landing of aircraft. The building wraps around the airstrip, connecting arrival and departure areas while offering stunning views of the planes and the city skyline.

Flying taxis in the sky.

In February, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted that air taxi stations will begin operation in Dubai within the next three years.

Dubai has long been planning a flying taxi service. In 2017, the city's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed plans to introduce autonomous passenger drones that year, with a one-passenger model manufactured by the Chinese company Ehang.

RELATED: Driverless flying taxi service to launch in Dubai

In 2022, the Chinese XPeng X2 completed its first successful public test flight at Dubai’s GITEX tech expo. This electric two-seater was designed to carry two passengers, reach speeds of up to 80 mph, and take off vertically using eight propellers.

RELATED: XPeng flying car soars above Dubai skies

The proposed site near Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of four locations being considered for the vertiport network, which Skyports Infrastructure and RTA aim to develop by 2026, according to Foster + Partners.