Did Not Make The Cut · 13 eVTOL entities we cut and why

About

Most eVTOL coverage publishes every press release as if it were a contract. We don't. Our editorial bar is: contracted, built, flight-tested, or regulated — backed by primary-source documentation. MoUs, intent letters, marketing announcements, and roadmap-only sites do not pass the bar.

These 13 candidate entities were considered for the Arab-world database and cut for failing that bar. We publish the cut list so readers can verify our work and so future contracted commitments can move these entries onto the active site.

An entity moves off this page and onto the active site when any of the following becomes documented in a primary source: (a) a signed binding contract with specific terms and dates, (b) physical construction confirmed by the builder or owner, (c) a completed flight test under named regulatory authority, or (d) a published regulation specific to the entity.

Timeline

2026-05-20
Initial cut list published — 13 entities.

Practical info

Editorial bar

Contracted / built / flight-tested / regulated

What's excluded

MoUs, intent letters, marketing announcements, roadmap-only sites

How to upgrade an entry

Surface a primary-source binding contract, construction confirmation, completed flight test, or published regulation

How to get there

By metro

n/a

By car

n/a

From the airport

n/a

Regulatory status

This page is editorial disclosure, not a regulatory document.

Current progress

The 13 entities we cut

1. NEOM The Line Vertiport — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

The NEOM–Volocopter JV announced December 2021 covered 'design, integrate and operate' public routes across The Line, Oxagon and Trojena. After Volocopter's insolvency (Dec 2024) and Wanfeng acquisition (March 2025 for €10M), no built infrastructure or signed construction contract for a The Line vertiport has been published by NEOM, Volocopter, or Diamond Aircraft. Status: Roadmap, not contracted. Upgrade path: Built site or signed construction contract.

2. NEOM Oxagon Vertiport — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Same JV envelope as The Line. Renderings only; no separate built or contracted Oxagon vertiport surfaced in primary sources. Upgrade path: Same as The Line.

3. NEOM Trojena Vertiport — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Same. Cut.

4. Riyadh King Khalid International (KKIA) Vertiport — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No airport-specific vertiport contract. Archer/GACA December 2025 MoU mentions Riyadh and Jeddah as cities for 'early route testing and service introduction' but does not name KKIA. Upgrade path: Signed KKIA-specific construction contract.

5. Saadiyat Island Vertiport (standalone) — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Named only as a future site in the 10-vertiport Abu Dhabi network (ADIO release 10 Nov 2025). No build contract, no site-specific developer. Originally was the 'first hybrid heliport' target before Archer pivoted to Cruise Terminal. Upgrade path: Signed Saadiyat-specific construction contract or developer assignment.

6. Yas Island Vertiport (standalone) — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Same: named as future site in Abu Dhabi Nov 2025 announcement only. No contracted build. Upgrade path: Same as Saadiyat.

7. Lusail Vertiport (Qatar) — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No Lusail vertiport contract exists in primary sources. Qatar's MoT mentions Lusail only in the context of the water taxi terminal. Upgrade path: Signed Lusail vertiport contract.

8. NEOM The Line ↔ Oxagon Route — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Conceptual JV scope only — no published route contract distinct from the dormant Volocopter JV. Cut.

9. NEOM Airport ↔ The Line Route — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Same. Cut.

10. Riyadh ↔ Jeddah eVTOL Corridor — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Archer/GACA December 2025 MoU mentions both cities as 'early route testing' targets but: no operator named, no aircraft order, no infrastructure contract. The Saudia/Lilium contract was for a fleet, not a defined corridor (and is now orphaned anyway). Upgrade path: Operator-route binding agreement with named O–D pair.

11. Doha Airport ↔ Lusail Route — INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No Doha–Lusail eVTOL route contract. EHang's Doha trial flights (17 Nov 2025) were Port of Doha ↔ Katara, not Lusail. Cut.

12. DXB → Downtown Helipad Route — STALE / SUPERSEDED

Original Joby/RTA Feb 2024 announcement named 'Dubai Downtown' as the fourth network node. The 17 November 2025 update replaced 'Downtown' with American University of Dubai and added Dubai Mall and Atlantis the Royal. Status: Superseded — the original 'Downtown' destination no longer exists in the current network.

13. Joby S4 / Archer Midnight as Saudi Aircraft Contracts — DOWNGRADE TO MOU

Joby has multiple Saudi MoUs (GACA 12 Nov 2025; Abdul Latif Jameel up-to-200 aircraft 3 June 2025; THC+RSG 19 Nov 2025). Archer has parallel Saudi MoUs (GACA 10 Dec 2025; THC+RSG 19 Nov 2025). All are framework MoUs, not binding aircraft purchase orders. Comparable to Joby's binding RTA Definitive Agreement in Dubai, the Saudi-side equivalent does not exist. Upgrade path: Signed binding aircraft purchase agreement with named operator and delivery dates.

Frequently asked questions

Why publish a 'did not make the cut' page?

Most eVTOL coverage treats every press release as a contract. We treat MoUs as MoUs, intent as intent, and binding contracts as binding contracts. The 13 entries on this page were considered for the active database and rejected because they failed our editorial bar. Publishing the cut list is part of our integrity standard.

What is the editorial bar?

Contracted, built, flight-tested, or regulated — backed by primary-source documentation. MoUs, intent letters, marketing announcements, and roadmap-only sites do not pass.

Will these entries ever move onto the active site?

Yes, when any of the following becomes documented in a primary source: (a) a signed binding contract with specific terms and dates, (b) physical construction confirmed by the builder or owner, (c) a completed flight test under named regulatory authority, or (d) a published regulation specific to the entity.

How is this different from other industry trackers?

Industry trackers like FutureFlight, eVTOL Insights, and SimpleFlying publish every press release. We don't. The cost is fewer entries; the benefit is that every entry on the active site is documented to a higher standard.

Have you cut anything wrongly?

Possible. If you have primary-source evidence that any of these entries should be active, point us at the source — we'll re-evaluate. The cut list is a living document.

Sources

[research-2026-05-20] Primary-source audit (May 2026) primary · accessed 2026-05-20

Verification flags

This is a living document — entries may move onto the active site as primary-source evidence emerges.
Some readers will disagree with cuts (especially Saudi-side aircraft MoUs, which generate significant press coverage). We're open to re-evaluation with primary sources.
Sources for individual cuts are documented within each cut entry's reasoning above; pull threads from there for full primary-source chains.

Published 20 May 2026· Last verified 2026-05-20

Did Not Make The Cut: 13 Entities We Cut