About
The EHang EH216-S is a two-passenger autonomous (pilotless) eVTOL built by EHang Holdings (NASDAQ:EH). It holds the world's first type certificate for an autonomous passenger-carrying eVTOL, issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
On 12 June 2024, during the Hajj season, the EH216-S completed its debut flight in Saudi Arabia in Mecca. The flight was supported by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and the Ministry of Interior. EHang's local partner was Front End Limited Company.
This was the first autonomous passenger-carrying eVTOL trial in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was not a commercial flight — no commercial passenger operations followed.
Key facts
Timeline
- 2023-10EHang EH216-S receives world's first autonomous-eVTOL type certificate from CAAC China. [ehang-2024-06-12]
- 2024-06-12EH216-S debut flight in Mecca during Hajj season. Supported by GACA, MoTLS, MoHU, MoI. [ehang-2024-06-12]
Practical info
How to get there
By metro
n/a
By car
n/a
From the airport
n/a
Regulatory status
The flight was conducted under the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia, with the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and the Ministry of Interior as supporting authorities. GACA published its Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Roadmap in January 2024, providing the regulatory framework under which the flight was authorized.
Current progress
As of 20 May 2026, the 12 June 2024 flight remains the only documented EH216-S autonomous eVTOL flight in Saudi Arabia. No follow-on commercial operations have been announced by EHang or Front End Limited Company.
Connected entities
Aircraft
Frequently asked questions
What is the EHang EH216-S?
When did EHang fly in Saudi Arabia?
Who supported the Mecca flight?
Was the flight commercial?
Has EH216-S flown elsewhere in the Arab world?
Sources
- [ehang-2024-06-12] EHang IR — EH216-S Pilotless eVTOL Completes Debut Flight in Saudi Arabia (12 June 2024) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-20
Verification flags
- Single trial flight — no commercial operations followed in KSA.
- Flight details (exact duration, route, altitude) not published in EHang IR release.
- Front End Limited Company's commercial role beyond this trial flight not disclosed in primary sources.