The United Arab Emirates has taken another step toward introducing flying taxi services after the country’s aviation regulator approved a key certification stage for Archer Aviation’s electric aircraft, paving the way for limited commercial operations in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority announced on Friday that Archer’s Midnight aircraft had entered a Restricted Type Certificate (RTC) programme, marking progress in the regulatory process required before the aircraft can begin carrying passengers.
The decision makes Archer the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer to move into the RTC certification track with the UAE regulator. The programme follows international aviation safety and airworthiness standards and is designed to help companies introduce advanced aircraft into service under controlled commercial conditions.
The RTC pathway is expected to allow Archer to begin limited operations while continuing work toward full certification. Officials said the process is intended to support the long-term commercial viability of electric air taxis in the UAE.
Archer plans to launch flying taxi services in Abu Dhabi later this year in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation, one of the region’s largest aviation operators.
The development follows years of technical cooperation between Archer and the GCAA. UAE aviation officials have conducted inspections at Archer’s headquarters and testing facilities in the United States, while local demonstration flights involving the Midnight aircraft have also taken place in the UAE.
The initiative is being backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office as part of broader plans to position Abu Dhabi as a hub for smart and autonomous transport technologies through its SAVI cluster programme.
A major part of the next regulatory phase includes the launch of Design Organisation Approval (DOA) and Production Organisation Approval (POA) procedures. These approvals are intended to confirm confidence in Archer’s engineering standards, manufacturing systems and safety management practices.
Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director General of the Aviation Safety Affairs Sector at the GCAA, said the regulator remained focused on integrating new aviation technologies safely into the country’s airspace.
“The GCAA is committed to safely integrating innovative aviation technologies into the UAE airspace,” he said.
According to officials, the certification effort has already advanced across several operational areas considered essential before commercial launch. These include aircraft certification, maintenance systems, pilot training, security measures, vertiport development, operational oversight and airspace management.
Adam Goldstein described the UAE as one of the most supportive markets globally for advanced aviation technology.
“The UAE has been one of the most forward-leaning markets in the world for advanced aviation, and the GCAA has been a strong, collaborative partner throughout this process,” he said. “Advancing Midnight into this RTC programme is a major step toward bringing electric air taxis to the UAE.”
The UAE has invested heavily in futuristic transport projects in recent years as Gulf states compete to become leaders in next-generation mobility and urban aviation technology.
