Talks are under way to begin manufacturing a revolutionary "flying car" in Sharjah, a project that centres on a vehicle that can function on the road and in the air.
Developed by Dutch company PAL-V, it was shown at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park this week as Robert Dingemanse, the company's chief executive and co-founder, spoke of the vehicle's potential.
What is the flying car?
PAL-V describes its creation as a "fly-drive" vehicle, or an advanced air mobility solution.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has formally issued a "no technical objection" certificate for the vehicle, called the PAL-V Liberty, a hybrid of a three-wheeled car and a gyroplane.
The decision represented a significant step forwards for the company's goal of launching commercial operations in Europe and around the globe. It features two combustion engines, a maximum flight range of 500km, a top speed of 160kph, and requires about 150 metres of runway for take-off. It is expected to be priced at about $800,000.
Once airborne, it flies like a conventional aircraft but can land, fold its rotor system, and be driven like a standard car.
“It offers real door-to-door mobility, not station-to-station,” said Mr Dingemanse. “It’s faster, safer, and more economical than helicopters. Most importantly, it uses existing infrastructure and regulations, so it’s ready for deployment.”
The rotor system, which resembles that of a helicopter, is actually unpowered and functions like a steerable parachute in case of engine failure. “This safety feature, combined with its dual-engine set-up, makes the PAL-V one of the safest and easiest-to-learn personal aircraft available today,” he said.
From rescue missions to tourism
While the concept has captured the public imagination as a luxury item, Mr Dingemanse said the vehicle was designed with real-world applications in mind.
“More than 50 per cent of our order book is from government and business clients,” he said. “Emergency response units, doctors, police officers, they will be able to reach remote or crisis locations faster and more efficiently.”
Talking about the collaboration, Hussain Al Mahmoudi, chief executive of the park, said it continued a long-standing partnership with the Netherlands in sustainable technology and innovation. “The flying car is a natural fit for the kind of advanced mobility projects we have been championing,” he told The National.
SRTIP previously made headlines with its sky pod initiative, an innovative system of driverless suspended rail cabins tested in 2024 as a future mode of urban transport.
“We are proud to be backed by a robust ecosystem of more than 20 educational institutions, including the American University of Sharjah,” Mr Al Mahmoudi said. “We are also equipped with cutting-edge facilities such as 3D printing labs capable of producing metal, plastic and titanium components.”
The park is hoping to take the flying car from concept to reality and Mr Al Mahmoudi said there had been talks about establishing an assembly and development centre for the vehicle in Sharjah.
“We aim to create opportunities for innovation, provide technical training, and hands-on development, while empowering Emirati talent to play a leading role in shaping the future of advanced mobility in the region,” he said. “We want this technology developed here, not just promoted. Our infrastructure, labs and student population make us ideally positioned to become a regional hub for this breakthrough.
“Our goal is to transfer knowledge, build skills, and provide opportunities for the next generation of Emirati innovators.”
Taking to the skies
The global advanced air mobility market is expected to reach a value of up to $2.9 trillion by 2040, as innovations which once seemed a flight of fancy are set to propel a bold new era of transport.
Flying taxis are expected to hit the skies of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the coming months.
US company Archer Aviation has identified the Corniche, Saadiyat Island and some areas of Abu Dhabi city as among the most promising places in which to run its electric air taxi service, as it gears up for a commercial launch before the year's end.
Nikhil Goel, chief commercial officer at Archer Aviation, told The National that a network would be revealed in "the near future”.
The company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange as ACHR, is working with Abu Dhabi authorities to make the city the first where the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft service, called Midnight, is publicly available.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
%3Cp%3EDavid%20White%20might%20be%20new%20to%20the%20country%2C%20but%20he%20has%20clearly%20already%20built%20up%20an%20affinity%20with%20the%20place.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20the%20UAE%20shocked%20Pakistan%20in%20the%20semi-final%20of%20the%20Under%2019%20Asia%20Cup%20last%20month%2C%20White%20was%20hugged%20on%20the%20field%20by%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20the%20team%E2%80%99s%20captain.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EWhite%20suggests%20that%20was%20more%20a%20sign%20of%20Aayan%E2%80%99s%20amiability%20than%20anything%20else.%20But%20he%20believes%20the%20young%20all-rounder%2C%20who%20was%20part%20of%20the%20winning%20Gulf%20Giants%20team%20last%20year%2C%20is%20just%20the%20sort%20of%20player%20the%20country%20should%20be%20seeking%20to%20produce%20via%20the%20ILT20.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20is%20a%20delightful%20young%20man%2C%E2%80%9D%20White%20said.%20%E2%80%9CHe%20played%20in%20the%20competition%20last%20year%20at%2017%2C%20and%20look%20at%20his%20development%20from%20there%20till%20now%2C%20and%20where%20he%20is%20representing%20the%20UAE.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CHe%20was%20influential%20in%20the%20U19%20team%20which%20beat%20Pakistan.%20He%20is%20the%20perfect%20example%20of%20what%20we%20are%20all%20trying%20to%20achieve%20here.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20about%20the%20development%20of%20players%20who%20are%20going%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE%20and%20go%20on%20to%20help%20make%20UAE%20a%20force%20in%20world%20cricket.%E2%80%9D%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
