Abu Dhabi will be the first city in the region to operate US-based Archer Aviation’s ‘Midnight’ flying taxi in the region, it was announced on Thursday.
ADA signed a deal with the US-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Archer Aviation to supply its Midnight aircraft later this year. ADA became Archer’s first global ‘Launch Edition’ customer.
Nader Al Hammadi, chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Badr Al Olama, director-general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) signed the agreement.
Abu Dhabi Aviation announced that it would fund the deployment of Midnight, making it the first operator of electric air taxis in the region.
test flights of Midnight will begin in the summer of 2025 to monitor the impact of extreme temperatures on the aircraft and within the cabin before the official launch of flying taxi services in the UAE capital.
Archer’s Midnight will reduce 60- to 90-minute commutes by car to an estimated 10- to 20-minute. Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.
“We have been observing the advancements in eVTOL technology for years, and we are proud to partner with Archer to bring this innovation to the UAE. As a leading force in the aviation industry across the region and the largest helicopter operator in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Aviation has the expertise to develop a scalable urban air mobility service. We are excited to lead the way in launching the region’s electric air taxi service, starting right here in Abu Dhabi,” said Nader Al Hammadi, chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation.
Moreover, Archer and ADA will jointly establish a pragmatic and repeatable playbook to deploy Midnight commercially in multiple early adopter markets, build operational expertise, generate revenue and continue to strengthen long-term demand.
In addition, Archer will provide ADA with a team of experienced pilots, technicians, and engineers to support the initial operational ramp-up, ensuring a safe and efficient deployment. Additionally, Archer plans to offer an integrated software infrastructure, including a booking application, to support Urbain Air Mobility (UAM) operations.
“This is how we’ll bring Midnight from the manufacturing line to our first customers — and it’s a playbook we’ll run repeatedly as we scale our operations globally. Thank you to Abu Dhabi Aviation for being our first Launch Edition customer. We have a big year ahead,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer.
