UAE Aviation Regulator Reviews Air-Taxi Certification With Joby and Archer in California

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority reviewed aircraft certification and airworthiness requirements with Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation during separate visits to the companies’ California facilities, AviNews reported on October 16. The delegation, led by Assistant Director General for Aviation Safety Affairs Aqeel Al Zarooni with senior flight-operations and airworthiness representatives, held technical workshops covering certification, airworthiness and operational matters for each air-taxi program.

Direct regulator engagement signals the UAE is moving certification and operating rules toward planned 2026 launches, ahead of most other markets. Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority in February 2024 giving it exclusive rights to run air-taxi services in the emirate for six years, with a commercial launch targeted for 2026. Archer has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and completed its first UAE test flight at Al Bateen Executive Airport, days after Joby’s test flight in Dubai. Archer’s longest piloted flight so far covered about 55 miles in 31 minutes.

The GCAA has previously said air-taxi certification in the UAE would be completed in the third quarter of 2026. Joby’s UAE team has said passengers will be carried only once all safety and certification requirements are met — including an Air Operator Certificate from the GCAA. With neither Joby nor Archer yet holding an FAA type certificate in the U.S., the UAE race is increasingly where the world’s first scheduled eVTOL passenger service is likely to be decided.