Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO)

About

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is the Abu Dhabi government's investment promotion office. Director General is Badr Al-Olama. ADIO is the named strategic government counterparty for Archer Aviation's UAE Launch Edition program — distinct from the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), which is sometimes incorrectly cited as Archer's UAE government partner.

The original framework agreement between Archer and ADIO was signed at DRIFTx Abu Dhabi on 25 April 2024. Archer's release characterized the agreement as covering 'multi-hundred-million dollar investments.' Per Archer's 14 November 2025 IR release, ADIO has now activated the framework as a definitive agreement, with first payments flowing from Abu Dhabi Aviation under the Launch Edition program.

ADIO is also the lead government office for the Abu Dhabi 10-vertiport network announced on 10–11 November 2025 in joint declaration with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), Abu Dhabi Airports, and GCAA.

Note: the umbrella program for Abu Dhabi's eVTOL strategy is the SAVI (Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry) cluster announced in 2023. ADIO operates within this cluster.

Key facts

Timeline

1. 2023
   Abu Dhabi launches SAVI (Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry) cluster. [archer-ir-2025-11-14]
2. 2024-04-25
   ADIO–Archer framework agreement signed at DRIFTx Abu Dhabi. 'Multi-hundred-million dollar' scale. [archer-ir-2025-11-14]
3. 2025-11-10
   ADIO leads Abu Dhabi 10-vertiport network joint announcement with ITC, Abu Dhabi Airports, GCAA. [adio-2025-11-10]
4. 2025-11-14
   Archer announces ADIO has activated framework as definitive agreement; first payments flowing. [archer-ir-2025-11-14]

Practical info

How to get there

By metro

n/a

By car

n/a

From the airport

n/a

Regulatory status

ADIO is an investment promotion office, not an airworthiness regulator. Aviation regulation falls under the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE and the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of Abu Dhabi. ADIO's role is strategic investment counterparty.

Current progress

As of 20 May 2026, ADIO is the active strategic counterparty for Archer's UAE Launch Edition. First Launch Edition payments are flowing. The 10-vertiport network announced November 2025 is in execution with AUH and AZI under construction.

Connected entities

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. [archer-ir-2025-11-14] Archer Aviation IR — UAE Launch Edition Flight Test Campaign (14 Nov 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-20
2. [adio-2025-11-10] Abu Dhabi 10-Vertiport Network Announcement — ADIO / ITC / Abu Dhabi Airports / GCAA (10 Nov 2025) government · accessed 2026-05-20
3. [archer-ir-2025-04-23] Archer Aviation IR — Design Approval Abu Dhabi Hybrid Heliport (23 Apr 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-20

Verification flags

• ADIO–Archer framework agreement full text not published; only Archer's IR characterization is available.
• ADIO is sometimes incorrectly cited as MoIAT (Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology) in third-party industry coverage; primary Archer IR releases name ADIO consistently.
• Specific Launch Edition payment amounts not disclosed.