Saudi Arabia and China's Ehang have agreed to bring air taxis into service across the kingdom, starting in November, as the country bets on autonomous vehicles to transform its air mobility sector.
Tech company Front End, Ehang and Cluster2, which operates 22 airports across the kingdom, have signed an initial pact to use the vehicles for passenger transport and logistics, according to a statement on Tuesday from Khobar-based Front End.
"We will begin this November with passenger rides – a historic step that will mark the first time these aircraft are carrying paying customers in the kingdom,” Majid Alghaslan, chairman and chief executive of Front End, told The National.
"From there, we will scale in 2026 and 2027, gradually expanding across the Cluster Two airport network and beyond to build a truly national advanced air mobility system.”
The company's launch passenger platform is the Ehang EH216-S – a two-seat, fully electric, pilotless air taxi that "has been extensively tested and proven to be reliable”, Mr Alghaslan said, adding that the aircraft has already received type certification in China from the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
"But equally important, we are also deploying the EH216-L logistics version, which is designed for cargo, public safety, and government utilisation.”
Front End said it is not only testing concepts but certifying and flying autonomous aerial vehicles across the kingdom.
“We are building the foundations for the low-altitude economy, supported by urban traffic management systems, unlocking economic value, and positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the world’s most advanced mobility technologies,” Mr Alghaslan said in the statement.
The move is part of Saudi Arabia's plans to develop its aviation sector to become a global player, with advanced air mobility one of the main cornerstones of that strategy.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation launched its Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap for Saudi Arabia in August 2024, outlining the technologies, use cases and regulatory framework required to ensure safety and economic opportunities of the sector. This spans the use of small unmanned aircraft systems to larger vertical take-off and landing aircraft for faster transportation of people and goods.
The strategy outlines benefits such as reduced congestion, fewer traffic accidents, contribution to sustainability goals, attracting foreign direct investments and localising advanced technologies. It also highlighted the boost to growth sectors such as tourism, manufacturing and transportation.
In June 2024, the partnership between Front End and Ehang led the two companies to conduct successful trials of an unmanned air taxi in Makkah.
“Transitioning to the operational stage marks an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to emerge as a regional hub for autonomous mobility, utilising AAV technology as a competitive advantage to attract global investment and enhance existing value chains,” Front End said on Tuesday.
With population growth and increasing traffic congestion, other cities in the Gulf such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have also been outlining ambitious plans for flying taxis.
Air taxi company Archer Aviation plans to launch services in Abu Dhabi, while Dubai has teamed up with Joby Aviation for its services.
