About
Archer Aviation's Abu Dhabi operations are the UAE arm of the California-based eVTOL developer Archer Aviation Inc. Archer's UAE programme is built around the piloted four-passenger Midnight aircraft, with Abu Dhabi designated as Archer's first international launch market under a framework announced 16 October 2023 with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and formalised at DRIFTx in February 2024.
The programme uses a multi-stakeholder consortium model: Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) is the launch operator under Archer's 'Launch Edition' programme announced 27 February 2025; Falcon Aviation Services is the vertiport partner; Etihad Aviation Training handles pilot training; Abu Dhabi Airports anchors the network at Zayed International (AUH) and Al Bateen Executive (AZI); and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is the federal regulator.
Connected entities
Routes
- Abu Dhabi Network — Route 1 · announced
- Abu Dhabi Network — Route 2 · announced
Aircraft
Frequently asked questions
Who is Archer Aviation in Abu Dhabi?
Archer Aviation in Abu Dhabi is the UAE programme of Archer Aviation Inc., a California-based eVTOL developer. Archer's Abu Dhabi programme is anchored in a framework agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) signed in February 2024, with Abu Dhabi Aviation as the launch operator.
Which aircraft will Archer Aviation operate in Abu Dhabi?
Archer Aviation will operate the Archer Midnight, a piloted four-passenger eVTOL, in Abu Dhabi. Midnight completed its first in-country flight at Al Bateen Executive Airport on 2 July 2025 as part of the UAE flight test campaign.
When will Archer Aviation start commercial flights in Abu Dhabi?
Archer Aviation has stated a target of 2026 for commercial Midnight operations in Abu Dhabi under the Launch Edition programme. As of 1 May 2026, no commercial revenue passenger flight has been announced and no Air Operator Certificate has been issued by GCAA.
Who are Archer Aviation's partners in Abu Dhabi?
Archer Aviation's confirmed Abu Dhabi partners are: Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Abu Dhabi Aviation (launch operator), Falcon Aviation Services (vertiports), Etihad Aviation Training (pilot training), Abu Dhabi Airports (network), GCAA (regulator), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (hospital vertiport), and Jetex (FBO integration).
Where will Archer Aviation operate in Abu Dhabi?
Archer Aviation's Abu Dhabi network is anchored at Zayed International Airport (AUH), Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI), Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal (hybrid heliport), and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. ADIO has stated the network will include 10 or more sites.
Is Archer Aviation Abu Dhabi the same as Joby in Dubai?
No. Archer Aviation operates in Abu Dhabi under an ADIO-led programme; Joby Aviation operates in Dubai under a separate exclusive agreement with the Roads and Transport Authority. The two programmes are independent and run on different aircraft and different vertiport networks.
Has Archer Midnight been certified by GCAA?
As of 1 May 2026, the General Civil Aviation Authority has not published a Type Certificate for Archer Midnight. GCAA has granted design acceptance for the hybrid heliport at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and has run certification workshops with Archer; full Type Certification work is ongoing.
Sources
- [archer-ir-2023-10-16] Archer Aviation IR — Archer & ADIO Announce Plan to Launch Archer's All-Electric Air Taxi Service Across the UAE (16 Oct 2023) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
- [archer-ir-2024-02] Archer Aviation IR — Framework Agreement For Multi-Hundred-Million Dollars To Accelerate Commercial Air Taxi Operations Across UAE (Feb 2024) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
- [archer-news-2024-03-11] Archer Aviation — Archer and Falcon Aviation to Jointly Develop Vertiport Network in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (11 Mar 2024) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
- [archer-ir-2024-12-06] Archer Aviation IR — Abu Dhabi and Archer Announce Agreement With Cross-Industry Stakeholders (6 Dec 2024) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
- [archer-ir-2025-02-27] Archer Aviation IR — Archer Unveils Midnight 'Launch Edition' Commercialization Program with Abu Dhabi Aviation (27 Feb 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
- [archer-news-2025-07-02] Archer Aviation — Archer Begins Test Flights in Abu Dhabi (2 Jul 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
- [archer-ir-2025-10-08] Archer Aviation IR — Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Unveils Plans for UAE's First Hospital-Based Vertiport (8 Oct 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
- [archer-ir-2025-11] Archer Aviation IR — Midnight Showcases In-Country eVTOL Flight Test Campaign in UAE (Nov 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-01
Verification flags
- No GCAA Type Certificate has been published for Archer Midnight as of 1 May 2026.
- No Air Operator Certificate has been published for Abu Dhabi Aviation under the Launch Edition programme as of 1 May 2026.
- Specific intra-Abu-Dhabi route maps beyond announced anchors (AUH, AZI, Cruise Terminal, Cleveland Clinic) are not all individually published by Archer or ADIO.
- Etihad Aviation Training is the partner — not Etihad Airways; secondary coverage sometimes blurs this distinction.
- GPS approximated to central Abu Dhabi (Corniche) from OpenStreetMap pending operator-published vertiport coordinates.