Abu Dhabi Airports plans to construct over 10 vertiports for air taxis and eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) to boost connectivity within the Capital and to other emirates, as announced by its chief executive on Monday.
“We aim to support Abu Dhabi’s vision of enhancing trade, tourism, and connectivity. Our goal is to redefine the future airport experience. We will oversee the development of more than 10 vertiports throughout Abu Dhabi. Currently, we’re setting up vertiports at Al Batina airport, positioning it as a hub due to its central city location,” stated Elena Sorlini, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports.
“Our objective is to connect Abu Dhabi globally while also linking our airports to the city and other emirates in the UAE. Thus, we emphasize intermodal connectivity. We expect the first operations to launch in 2026 to elevate passenger experience,” she mentioned during a panel discussion at the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025 in the UAE capital on Monday.
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Driven by Abu Dhabi, the UAE has been actively promoting this innovative transport method to offer a unique experience to residents and tourists, alongside easing traffic congestion. Abu Dhabi has partnered with US-based Archer Aviation to introduce air taxi services in the UAE starting next year. It’s anticipated that eVTOL regulations will be approved by the third quarter of next year.
Biometric Advancements at Abu Dhabi Airport
The chief executive of Abu Dhabi Airports also disclosed that biometric solutions are now deployed at five of the nine touch points to improve the passenger experience.
“We plan to expand this across the entire journey, ensuring our passengers enjoy a seamless experience, which also boosts our capacity, safety, and security.”
Abu Dhabi Airports reported 18 consecutive quarters of double-digit passenger traffic growth, continuing its upward trajectory in flights and cargo services during the third quarter of 2025.
From July 1 to September 30, 2025, Abu Dhabi Airports welcomed 8.49 million passengers, marking a 10.1 percent rise over the same period in 2024. Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi’s premier gateway, saw 8.35 million passengers by the end of September, a 10.4 percent year-on-year increase.
She added that Abu Dhabi Airports is expanding the solution to include transfer passengers, with a goal to achieve 100 percent paperless operations.
Badr Al Olama, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and Tony Han, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of WeRide, also participated in the panel discussion.
