NEOM’s Electric Air Taxis: A Milestone in Saudi Arabian Urban Mobility
Residents of Saudi Arabia may soon be commuting via air taxis, thanks to NEOM’s innovative urban air mobility initiative. NEOM, a groundbreaking development in northwest Saudi Arabia, has partnered with Volocopter, a leader in electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to successfully complete the country’s first authorized test flights for air taxis.
Months of collaboration between NEOM, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and Volocopter ensured a regulatory-compliant and safe test environment. These flights, conducted over a week, mark significant progress toward NEOM’s vision of a sustainable, multimodal transportation system and highlight Saudi Arabia’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of traditional transport.
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, emphasized the broader implications: “The successful test flight of a Volocopter eVTOL is not just another milestone towards the creation of NEOM’s innovative, sustainable, multimodal transportation system — it is a tangible example of NEOM as a global accelerator and incubator of solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.” He added that integrating smart, sustainable, and safe mobility systems would enhance livability, connectivity, and reduce carbon emissions.
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His Excellency, Abdulaziz A. Al-Duailej, President of GACA, underscored the significance of this achievement for Saudi aviation. He stated, “This safe and successful test flight represents an important milestone of the Saudi aviation sector and another steady step towards achieving the aviation sector’s strategy, through innovation and employing emerging technologies to create new industries that contribute to the output GDP and create more jobs.”
NEOM and Volocopter are committed to building a future powered by clean and innovative technology. Their joint venture, established in 2021, aims to turn NEOM into a global living lab for advanced air mobility, revolutionizing transportation and transforming lives.
Christian Bauer, Chief Commercial Officer of Volocopter, expressed excitement about the collaboration: “It is beyond exciting to see our work from the past 18 months come to fruition. As the first eVTOL aircraft to ever test in Saudi Arabia, we are proud to have laid the groundwork for our future collaboration here in NEOM.”
The test campaign evaluated the Volocopter aircraft’s performance in local climate conditions and assessed its integration into the local unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) system. Volocopter’s eVTOLs will play a crucial role in NEOM’s smart and sustainable mobility system, powered entirely by renewable energy from solar and wind sources.
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These aircraft will serve as air taxis and emergency response vehicles, offering quieter operation, greater adaptability, and lower operating costs compared to traditional helicopters. Their smaller infrastructure footprint and fewer operating restrictions ensure both safety and future relevance.
The future of public transport in Saudi Arabia is here, with NEOM and Volocopter leading the way in sustainable, innovative urban mobility.