British architects design a flying taxi “vertiport” terminal for Dubai

British company Foster+Partners announced a concept design for a “vertiport” terminal intended for vertical take-off and landing flying taxis.

1. Air taxi service

Foster+Partners developed the concept for Skyports Infrastructure, the advanced air mobility company looking to begin air taxi services in Dubai by 2026. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai who has endorsed the project, confirmed the air taxi stations will start operating in Dubai within the next three years.

Flying taxis are a new form of transportation that involves small, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can transport passengers across urban areas. The concept of flying taxis has gained significant attention in recent years due to the increasing demand for faster and more efficient transportation in congested urban areas.

Once operational, the innovative vehicle developed by the British architects will connect Dubai’s most popular locations and provide high-speed and zero-emissions travel. The major infrastructure is set to be strategically located next to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and integrated with existing airport networks, as well as surrounding transport hubs.

We are delighted to have developed a vertiport concept for the emerging advanced air mobility industry, which will transform the way people travel in Dubai.

David Summerfield, Head of Studio at Foster+Partners in a press release

2. Conceptual design

Summerfield added that the conceptual vertiport would connect with DXB and the Dubai Metro, “to provide seamless, sustainable travel across the city for international and domestic passengers.” The first renderings show the terminal located on an elevated deck to facilitate take-off and landing for aircraft. The building is shielded around the airfield, connecting the arrival and departure lounges, and offering views of the aircraft and the tops of the city’s skyscrapers.

3. An old ambition

Back in 2017, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed ambitions of launching driverless passenger drones. The idea was to use a one-seat model made by the Chinese company Ehang. Last year, the Chinese company XPeng X2 successfully completed the first public test flight of its two-seater flying car at Dubai’s GITEX technology expo. The fully electric vehicle was designed to carry two passengers, reach speeds of up to 129 km per hour and lift vertically off the ground using eight propellers. While the technology for flying taxis is still in the early stages of development, many companies, including Uber and Airbus, are investing in this new form of transportation.