UAE certifies world's first commercial vertiport for electric air taxis

The UAE has become the first country in the world to certify a purpose-built commercial vertiport for electric air taxi operations. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that VDX, developed by Skyports Infrastructure, has received regulatory certification for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations. Located adjacent to Dubai International Airport, VDX will serve as the flagship hub of Dubai's planned air taxi network, with three additional vertiports currently under development in partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The certification follows a comprehensive regulatory assessment covering infrastructure, operational procedures, safety management systems, emergency preparedness and compliance with aviation regulations. The four-storey VDX vertiport spans approximately 3,100 square metres and includes two dedicated take-off and landing pads, rapid charging facilities for electric aircraft and passenger processing infrastructure. Once commercial operations begin, the facility is expected to handle up to 170,000 passengers annually.