About
Zayed International (AUH) Vertiport is one of two foundational vertiports in Abu Dhabi's 10-vertiport advanced air mobility network. The network was announced on 10–11 November 2025 in a joint declaration involving the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Abu Dhabi Airports, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and Skyports Infrastructure as construction partner.
Abu Dhabi Airports CEO Elena Sorlini stated: 'By establishing these initial vertiport locations at Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Al Bateen Executive Airport (AZI), we are laying the concrete foundations for an emirate-wide Advanced Air Mobility network.' Skyports indicated that construction of these initial vertiports was already underway in November 2025, with Q1 2026 completion projected — a target that, as of 20 May 2026, has slipped without a public completion announcement.
The intended eVTOL operating partner is Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), under its Launch Edition agreement with Archer Aviation. The Archer Midnight aircraft is the anticipated operational platform.
Key facts
Timeline
- 2025-11-10Abu Dhabi 10-vertiport network announced jointly by ADIO, ITC, Abu Dhabi Airports and GCAA. AUH and AZI named as initial sites under construction. [adio-2025-11-10]
- 2025-11-11Abu Dhabi Airports CEO Elena Sorlini publicly confirms AUH and AZI as foundational vertiports. [adio-2025-11-10]
- 2026-Q1Original projected completion date (Skyports, Nov 2025) — date has slipped without public completion announcement as of May 2026. [adio-2025-11-10]
Practical info
How to get there
By metro
No metro service to AUH. Abu Dhabi public buses serve the airport.
By car
Located approximately 30 km from downtown Abu Dhabi, accessible via Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Highway.
From the airport
Approximately 130 km by road from Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Regulatory status
The vertiport falls under the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for airworthiness, with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) providing emirate-level oversight in Abu Dhabi. GCAA Director-General Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi has stated that air-taxi certification is targeted for Q3 2026. The GCAA's hybrid-vertiport regulatory framework was on track for publication by July 2025 per Archer's April 2025 statements.
Current progress
As of 20 May 2026, AUH Vertiport remains under construction. The original Q1 2026 completion projection has slipped without a public completion announcement from Abu Dhabi Airports, Skyports, or ADIO. Commercial operations are gated on both completion and on GCAA aircraft type certification (targeted Q3 2026).
Connected entities
Routes
- AUH ↔ Yas Island (planned) · announced
- AUH ↔ Saadiyat (planned) · announced
Aircraft
Frequently asked questions
When will AUH Vertiport open?
Who is building AUH Vertiport?
Who will operate from AUH Vertiport?
Is AUH the first vertiport in Abu Dhabi?
How does AUH Vertiport relate to the rest of the Abu Dhabi network?
Sources
- [adio-2025-11-10] Abu Dhabi 10-Vertiport Network Announcement — Integrated Transport Centre / ADIO / Abu Dhabi Airports / GCAA (10 Nov 2025) government · accessed 2026-05-20
- [archer-ir-2025-04-23] Archer Aviation IR — Archer Secures Design Approval For UAE's First Hybrid Heliport (23 Apr 2025) operator-ir · accessed 2026-05-20
- [gcaa-2025-11-03] GCAA UAE — Air-taxi certification target Q3 2026 (Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, 3 Nov 2025) regulatory · accessed 2026-05-20
Verification flags
- Original Q1 2026 completion projection from Skyports has slipped without public completion announcement as of 20 May 2026.
- Vertiport-specific GPS coordinates not published; coordinates above are AUH airport coordinates.
- Detailed facility specifications (floor area, TOLAs, charging, capacity) not published.
- Final operator and aircraft partnership not confirmed in a single binding contract; ADA's Launch Edition agreement with Archer covers Abu Dhabi operations generally but specific aircraft allocation to AUH Vertiport is not published.