Abu Dhabi Airports has signed an agreement with France airport operator Groupe ADP to explore developing ground infrastructure for air taxis in the UAE capital.
The two parties will explore the potential for advanced air mobility in Abu Dhabi, particularly for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to move people and cargo, Abu Dhabi Airports said on Monday.
Under the agreement, the two airport operators will undertake joint planning, design, development and operation, it said. This is following discussions with stakeholders, a feasibility study and a market assessment.
The advanced air mobility system “integrates flight technologies with transformational aircraft designs which utilise electric power to hover, take off and land vertically, enabling sustainability in air transport for both passengers and cargo”, said Jamal Al Dhaheri, managing director and chief executive of Abu Dhabi Airports.
Using this technology will help drive “efficiency, convenience and most importantly, sustainability”, he said.
The move comes as companies around the world are racing to develop and eventually obtain regulatory approval for air taxis amid a push for greener transportation.
Airlines are looking at developing transport services using battery-powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically to carry travellers to airports or on short trips between cities, so they can beat traffic.
Regulatory approval is required for air taxis, as well as for building airport infrastructure and so-called “vertiports” for take-off and landing.
Abu Dhabi Airports signed the deal with Group ADP at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo last week.
The two sides will collaborate on building an advanced air mobility (AAM) plan and accelerate the development of the necessary infrastructure in Abu Dhabi, Philippe Martinet of Groupe ADP Airport Services said.
“With our hands-on experience in the Paris region today, and our deep understanding of the industry, its infrastructure and operational challenges, we will be supporting Abu Dhabi Airports in laying the ground for AAM service implementation in Abu Dhabi,” he said.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%C2%A0profile
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
