The UAE is quickly establishing itself as a global testing ground for autonomous mobility. The electric air taxis are expected to begin operations later in 2026 in the region. Industry leaders say the country’s mix of forward-thinking regulation and controlled airspace is giving it an advantage. The strict safety standards in the UAE also allow emerging transport technologies to be tested in real-world conditions.
The rollout of electric air taxis in the UAE will begin with piloted aircraft. They will gradually move towards higher levels of automation. Joeben Bevirt, CEO of Joby Aviation, at a panel on the future of mobility during the World Government Summit (WGS) 2026, said the company plans to launch its air taxi service later this year.
Bevirt highlighted the UAE’s unique aviation environment. The region has limited general aviation traffic compared to markets like the US. It, thus, offers a safer and more manageable setting for testing autonomous aircraft under regulatory oversight.
The same regulatory approach is being applied to self-driving systems on the ground. Daniil Shuleyko, CEO of Yango Group, praised the UAE’s sandbox model. It allows companies to deploy autonomous technology in specific districts before expanding.
Yango has already launched delivery robots in selected areas, working closely with regulators. If systems perform safely and reliably, they are scaled to additional locations, cutting down risk while maintaining public trust.
Even though artificial intelligence is developing fast, industry leaders stressed that human oversight is important. Shuleyko said humans continue to play a key role in decision-making, especially in complex or unexpected situations. Bevirt added that aviation already relies on this model, with autonomy supported by human supervision.
Getting people on board might be tough as robots become more common. To address this, companies are designing robots that are friendlier. They are using visual and audio cues to build comfort and familiarity.
Opening the session, Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), outlined Dubai’s broader mobility goals. The emirate plans to roll out 100 autonomous vehicles initially. It has ambitions to expand to 1,000 vehicles in the near term.
Dubai first announced its autonomous transport strategy in 2016. It is targeting 25 % of all transportation to be autonomous by 2030. Al Tayer said the vision is driven by the need to cut emissions, reduce congestion, and lower transport costs. Hence, positioning Dubai at the forefront of future mobility.