Urban Air Mobility

On November 17, 2025, EHang successfully completed pilotless urban air taxi flights in Doha, Qatar, with operational authorization from the QCAA. The flights, between the Port of Doha and Katara Cultural Village, demonstrated an 8-minute journey replacing a 30-minute car ride. This marks the first urban flights of a pilotless eVTOL in the Middle East. Future steps include phased AAM deployment, infrastructure development, and regulatory framework development to support commercial operations, contingent on further approvals.

Eve Air Mobility and Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation have signed a Framework Agreement to advance air mobility in the Middle East. This partnership aims to integrate eVTOL aircraft into Bahrain’s infrastructure, focusing on regulatory testing, vertiport development, and workforce training. Commercial operations are projected to begin in 2028, with international routes planned for 2029. Eve is also evaluating potential routes in regional hubs and designing eVTOLs tailored for the Middle East’s climate.

Uber plans to integrate Blade helicopter services into its app by 2026, leveraging its partnership with Joby Aviation. This follows Joby’s acquisition of Blade’s passenger business, excluding medical logistics. The move aims to introduce zero-emission aircraft for urban air mobility, building on Uber’s initial 2019 partnership and subsequent Elevate division divestment to Joby. While details are pending, the partnership seeks to provide customers with next-generation travel options. Success hinges on FAA approval, eVTOL production, and public acceptance in the competitive air taxi market.