Abu Dhabi will be the first to deploy the Midnight aircraft
With the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Archer, in coordination with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), announced the activation of an investment framework to accelerate Archer’s planned commercial air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi.
Under the agreement, Archer will begin deploying its Midnight aircraft in Abu Dhabi, starting with at least two piloted vehicles, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation and Etihad Aviation Training. This phase will include recruiting and training local pilots, conducting in-region testing and certification.
“We look forward to deepening our collaboration with local and global partners to solidify the UAE’s role as a leading Hub for sustainable air mobility,” stated HE Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General, GCAA.
Mobility solutions
“Bringing eVTOLs to Abu Dhabi reinforces our commitment to accelerating the deployment of game-changing mobility solutions, ensuring that Abu Dhabi remains a globally recognised hub for breakthrough technologies and high-impact innovation,” remarked HE Badr Al-Olama, Director General, ADIO.
“The Integrated Transport Centre undertakes regulatory and supervisory responsibilities for this sector, including the development of legislative frameworks, the establishment of a comprehensive AAM network, and the issuance of operational and infrastructure permits in coordination with the relevant authorities, to ensure the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency,” explained Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General, Integrated Transport Centre.
Goal
“Today, as we formalize this agreement, we are closer to our goal than ever. Thank you to ADIO for their ongoing support and partnership in this joint mission,” commented Adam Goldstein, Founder and CEO, Archer Aviation.
ADIO’s partnership with Archer forms part of a broader effort within the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster to attract and enable game-changing investments in advanced mobility applications across air, land and sea.
SAVI is projected to contribute AED 22bn to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and create 15,000 new jobs, with long-term economic returns across urban mobility, advanced manufacturing and high-value employment, a press statement concluded.
