Abu Dhabi seals deal with Archer Aviation to launch electric air taxis

Abu Dhabi will become the first city in the region to operate Archer Aviation’s ‘Midnight’ flying taxi, officials announced Thursday.

According to Khaleej Times,Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) signed an agreement with U.S.-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Archer Aviation to supply its Midnight aircraft later this year. ADA will be Archer’s first global ‘Launch Edition’ customer.

Nader Al Hammadi, chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Badr Al Olama, director-general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), signed the deal, making ADA the first operator of electric air taxis in the Middle East.

Test flights of the Midnight aircraft will begin in the summer of 2025 to assess its performance under extreme temperatures before its official deployment in Abu Dhabi.

Archer’s Midnight is designed to cut 60- to 90-minute car commutes down to an estimated 10 to 20 minutes. The piloted, four-passenger aircraft is built for frequent short-distance flights with minimal charging time.

“We have been observing advancements in eVTOL technology for years, and we are proud to partner with Archer to bring this innovation to the UAE,” said ADA chairman Nader Al Hammadi.

“As the largest helicopter operator in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Aviation has the expertise to develop a scalable urban air mobility service. We are excited to lead the way in launching the region’s electric air taxi service, starting right here in Abu Dhabi," he added.

Under the agreement, Archer and ADA will develop a framework to commercialize the Midnight aircraft in other early-adopter markets while building operational expertise and long-term demand.

Archer will provide ADA with trained pilots, technicians, and engineers to ensure a smooth initial rollout. The company will also introduce an integrated software platform, including a booking application, to support urban air mobility (UAM) operations.

“This is how we’ll bring Midnight from the manufacturing line to our first customers — and it’s a playbook we’ll run repeatedly as we scale our operations globally,” said Archer CEO and founder, Adam Goldstein.

The partnership marks a significant step toward Abu Dhabi’s vision of becoming a leader in advanced air mobility, reinforcing the UAE’s push for sustainable and innovative transport solutions.