Dubai commuters may soon have a new way to skip traffic: air taxis. Joby Aviation conducted the first test flight of its fully-electric air taxi in the emirate this week, a major milestone in the city's efforts to integrate airborne transport into existing mobility networks as early as next year.

Shares of Joby Aviation (JOBY) gained altitude yesterday, climbing 12% higher after announcing the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft leader successfully completed piloted test flights in Dubai. It marks a historic step toward commercial air taxi services.

The company delivered its first production air taxis to Dubai, where it hopes to launch the world’s first service in 2026.