Ras Al Khaimah Aims to Skyrocket into the eVTOL Era: Joby Air Taxi Service by 2027 with Skyports Vertiports

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), UAE — Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), one of the seven Emirates in the UAE, is staking a bold claim in the emerging advanced air mobility space: launching a commercial eVTOL-based air taxi system. In September 2025, Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA), Joby Aviation, and Skyports Infrastructure announced a strategic Memorandum of Understanding to launch a passenger eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) service in the Emirate by 2027.

The plan is further anchored in a previous memorandum of understanding (MoU) from May 2024 signed between the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA), Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), and Skyports Infrastructure. Joby Aviation is joining this partnership to deliver the aircraft and operations component.

Strategic Partnerships and Roles

RAKTA and RAKTDA

RAKTA, as the Emirate’s transportation regulator, is spearheading the initiative to embed eVTOL services within its Comprehensive Mobility Plan 2030, which emphasizes innovation, multimodal connectivity, and sustainability. RAKTDA, as the tourism authority, sees the project as a way to enhance access to key attractions and reduce travel friction for visitors. 

Their joint MoU with Skyports established that the three parties would collaborate on designing, building, and operating a network of vertiports across RAK to support eVTOL services.

Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA)

• Headquartered in Al Dhait, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE 🇦🇪
  Established in 2008
• Government entity within the Emirate responsible for transportation regulation
• Promotes sustainable and efficient mobility

Please watch the film below from RAKTA:

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA)

• Headquartered in Al Riffah, Ras Al Khaimah UAE 🇦🇪
  Established in May 2011
• Mandated by Emirati government to license, regulate and monitor the Emirate’s tourism and hospitality industry
• Develops tourism infrastructure in Ras Al Khaimah

Video from RAKTDA:

Skyports: Building the Vertiport Backbone

Skyports Infrastructure, a leading global developer of vertiport infrastructure, will be responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the takeoff/landing hubs that form the foundation of the air taxi network. Skyports had already signed an initial MoU with RAKTA in May 2024 to explore and establish the vertiport network in Ras Al Khaimah. In the 2025 agreement, Skyports joins with Joby in a full-fledged implementation role regarding the S4 eVTOL aircraft.

Skyports Infrastructure

• Headquartered in London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧
  Founded in 2018
• Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company
• Designs, obtains permits and builds vertiports
• Operates vertiport networks globally
• Technology
  • Landside terminal management
  • Airside resource management
  • Operational status supervision
  • Data integration

Joby Aviation: The eVTOL Operator

Joby Aviation, based in California, brings the air vehicle technology and operational expertise to the partnership. Its eVTOL aircraft is designed to carry one pilot and up to four passengers, with zero emissions and minimal noise—will serve as the workhorse for the announced air taxi network.

Joby Aviation

• Headquartered in Santa Cruz, California 🇺🇸
• NYSE: JOBY
• CEO and Founder: JoeBen Bevirt
• Major eVTOL manufacturer
• Manufacturer of S4 eVTOL aircraft
• Will develop hybrid-electric version, and is currently testing a hydrogen-electric version
• First transition of a full-scale, prototype aircraft on 2017.
• First piloted transition flight on April 22, 2025
• Acquired INFRAS in 2021 and the autonomy division of Xwing in 2024
• Received a total of $894 million in investment from Toyota
• Has obtained numerous defense contracts with the Pentagon and collaborates on testing of its eVTOL aircraft

Video of Joby’s test flight in Dubai, UAE:

Comments from the Leaders

“This partnership reflects Ras Al Khaimah’s strategic vision to shape the future of mobility by integrating advanced transport solutions within its urban and tourism ecosystem.” ….“This step is an extension of Ras Al Khaimah’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan 2030, which focuses on innovation, sustainability, and the integration of transport modes. The launch of air taxi services represents a qualitative addition that provides fast, efficient, and eco-friendly mobility options, meeting the needs of both residents and visitors. It also contributes to enhancing quality of life and reinforcing Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a modern, smart city and an attractive global destination.” –  RAKTA Director General, H.E Esmaeel Hasan Alblooshi

“Our work to deploy an air taxi service in the UAE is becoming a model for how advanced air mobility can reshape transportation systems globally.” ….“By bringing together the aircraft, the infrastructure and the regulator from day one, we are creating a clearly defined path to accelerate the launch of commercial air taxi service. We look forward to bringing this new route to life with our partners RAKTA and Skyports, and continue to build on the foundation we’ve laid across the UAE.” – JoeBen Bevirt, CEO and founder of Joby Aviation

“Following our MoU with RAKTA in May 2024 to establish the foundations for a vertiport network in RAK, we’re excited to see the project move to the next tangible phase of development with Joby as the aircraft OEM and service launch partner. With the strong progress Skyports is currently making on our Dubai Vertiport Network partnered with Joby as the air taxi service operator, together we are best placed to deliver air taxi services to RAK by 2027.” – Duncan Walker, CEO, Skyports

What the Service Will Look Like

The envisioned network will begin with a vertiport on Al Marjan Island, poised as the first node, and later expand to additional locations. The plan includes routes to major destinations such as Jebel Jais (the UAE’s highest mountain) and Al Hamra.

One of the most compelling promises is the dramatic reduction in travel times. For instance, a trip by car between Al Marjan and Jebel Jais currently takes about 70 minutes. Once the air taxi service is operational, that journey could take under 20 minutes. Moreover, a link from Dubai International Airport to Al Marjan Island could shrink from over an hour by road to less than 15 minutes in the eVTOL. 

Joby’s aircraft, designed to carry one pilot plus up to four passengers, is built for quiet, zero-emissions operation.The company boasts over 40,000 miles of flight testing under its belt, and has expressed optimism about operating its first passenger flights in Dubai as early as 2026.

Why This Matters in the Broader AAM Landscape

Ras Al Khaimah’s plan is meaningful for several reasons:

Acceleration of the market — public-private collaborations such as these provide signals to investors, regulators, and ecosystems that eVTOL is moving toward real deployment, not just experimentation.

Inter-emirate connectivity — by tying into Dubai, RAK’s air taxi system could help knit together a regional mobility network across the UAE.

Proof of concept in non‑megacity settings — most eVTOL discussions center on dense megacities; RAK’s approach shows the viability of providing aerial mobility in smaller, tourism‑driven geographies.

Vertical integration — combining aircraft, infrastructure, and regulation from the start offers a more controlled deployment path versus stovepipe efforts.

If successful, RAK’s air taxi service could represent one of the earliest commercial eVTOL deployments in the Gulf region. It would also serve as a testbed for scaling to other emirates and potentially exporting to other geographies pursuing sustainable aerial mobility. For eVTOL observers, the RAKTA–RAKTDA–Skyports–Joby partnership bears close watching: it could become a blueprint for integrating air mobility into regional transportation strategies.

The presence of H.E. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi at the signing underlines political will. Meanwhile, Skyports already has ongoing efforts in Dubai’s vertiport network (in partnership with Joby), giving the project a head start in regional domain expertise.

Stay tuned to eVTOL buzz ✈️ where we provide deep dives and more in-depth insights into the eVTOL industry, Skyports, Joby Aviation, and the UAE 🇦🇪

More Info:

RAKTA, Joby, and Skyports Partner to Launch Air Taxi Service in Ras Al Khaimah by 2027 (Skyports): click here

Joby’s Dream in the Desert: Why Joby’s testing in Dubai opens the door to future trends in AAM: click here

RAKTA, Joby and Skyports Partner to Launch Air Taxi Service in Ras Al Khaimah by 2027(Businesswire): click here

Skyports and Ras Al Khaimah to elevate tourism with electric air mobility: click here

Signing a MoU between RAKTA, RAKTDA, and Skyports to provide sustainable air transport by 2027: click here

Press Release: Ras Al Khaimah to Elevate Tourism with Electric Air Taxi Service: click here