News

Flying taxis are here: Archer Aviation completes first test flights in UAE

Published

5 months ago

July 3, 2025

Spread the love

Flying taxis are one step closer to becoming a reality in the UAE. Archer Aviation, a leading developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has completed its first test flights in Abu Dhabi. The milestone flight took place at Al Bateen Executive Airport and marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to introduce air taxi services to the region.

The aircraft, called Midnight, was put through its paces in real UAE summer conditions, including high temperatures, humidity, and dust, to evaluate how well it performs in a local environment. The test was observed by senior officials from the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Abu Dhabi Airports, and Archer’s key regional partners.

“This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility,” said Badr Al Olama, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

“We are enabling companies like Archer to test and scale next-gen mobility through the SAVI Cluster.”

Archer’s CEO and founder, Adam Goldstein, called the UAE test a “critical milestone” for the company’s commercial plans. “Testing our aircraft in the middle of summer gives us vital data to move forward in both the UAE and the US,” he added.

The test flight is part of Archer’s Launch Edition programme in partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation, which aims to bring electric air taxi services to the capital. The initiative builds on recent progress, including regulatory design approval for the UAE’s first hybrid heliport at Zayed Port’s Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal.

Abu Dhabi is the first market in Archer’s global rollout plan, reflecting the city’s ambitions to be a pioneer in futuristic and sustainable urban transport.

Related Topics:abudhabi airtaxi albateenairport archeraviation flyingtaxi

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

News

Dubai-India travel: Security procedures triggered for Emirates flight following bomb threat email, flight lands safely

Published

3 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Authorities at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport activated full emergency protocols on Friday after receiving a bomb threat email linked to Emirates flight EK526 travelling from Dubai (DXB) to Hyderabad (HYD).

According to GMR officials, the threat email landed in the airport’s customer support inbox around 7.30am on December 5. Despite the alert, the flight continued under strict monitoring and landed safely at 8.30am.

Once on the ground, the aircraft was immediately moved to an isolated bay. Passengers were safely deboarded, and security te

ams carried out standard bomb threat checks. Investigations are currently underway.

Emirates confirmed the incident in a statement to local media, saying authorities had alerted them to a “potential security threat” to EK526.
“All standard security procedures were implemented by the relevant local authorities with full co-operation from Emirates’ ground teams,” the airline said, adding that “the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the highest priority.”

Authorities say all threats are being investigated, and extra security measures remain in place at the airport.

News

Driving through Abu Dhabi this week? Here are the road closures you need to know about

Published

3 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

Abu Dhabi motorists can expect some delays over the next few days, with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announcing a series of partial road closures across key routes in the capital. Drivers are being urged to plan, allow extra travel time, and follow diversions to avoid congestion.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street

A major set of phased lane closures will take place near Sheikh Zayed Bridge from Tuesday, December 9 to Monday, December 22, 2025.

Three left lanes will be closed from 12am on December 9 until 10pm on December 15.
Two right lanes will then shut from 10pm on December 15 until 6am on December 22.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street

Another temporary closure is scheduled on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street from 5pm on December 5 until 5am on December 8.

Authorities explained that these restrictions are part of ongoing road enhancement projects designed to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes wherever possible during the maintenance period.

News

Sharjah Police give deadline to remove National Day stickers, or face fines

Published

3 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

Spread the love

If your car is still sporting National Day decals, it’s time to take them off. Sharjah Police have announced that all vehicle owners must remove their UAE National Day celebration stickers by Saturday, December 6, and those who miss the deadline will face violations.

The reminder follows a crackdown during the 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations, where authorities impounded 106 vehicles and nine motorbikes for dangerous and irresponsible behaviour on the roads.

According to Sharjah Police, the violations included:

Creating loud noise and disturbing residents
Driving recklessly and endangering others
Operating vehicles without a valid licence

Police officials urged motorists to celebrate responsibly and avoid turning festivities into safety risks.

However, there has been a shift in decorating trends this year. Many residents opted for cleaner, simpler, more elegant designs to showcase their UAE pride ahead of the long weekend, and demand for custom decals surged.

Authorities are now urging residents to ensure all celebratory stickers and decorations are removed by the set deadline to keep roads safe and avoid penalties.