Picture traveling from Dubai to Bahrain in merely 2 hours and 20 minutes, or soaring from Riyadh to Kuwait in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The catch? You won’t be in a traditional aircraft; you’ll be inside a flying car.
By 2027, flying cars are anticipated to traverse the skies of the UAE.
This past Thursday, PAL-V, a mobility solution provider based in the Netherlands, showcased its flying car at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP). This two-seater vehicle requires a takeoff strip of only 250 meters, and its retractable propellers enable it to transform into a conventional car.
With a starting price of $800,000 (Dh2.9 million), the vehicle is expected to take flight in the UAE in 2027, pending necessary approvals from regulatory bodies, according to Robert Dingemanse, CEO and co-founder of PAL-V.
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This flying car can carry a maximum of two individuals along with 20kg of luggage. Powered by a combustion engine, it boasts the capability of covering a distance of up to 500km on a full tank.
Operating at lower altitudes, the vehicle is designed to assist in emergency responses by swiftly transporting medical personnel, conducting border surveillance, coast guarding, and fulfilling military duties. According to Dingemanse, this flying car offers seamless door-to-door travel and can utilize existing infrastructure and regulations.
“It surpasses other forms of transport in speed and is more economical to operate than a helicopter. You can reach virtually any location since it is capable of landing close by, with a driving option always available. It has similar range and speed attributes as helicopters, yet it is safer,” he noted.
Dingemanse added that the potential for private ownership in the UAE will be determined by local authorities. “The vehicle may also be repurposed for flying taxi services,” he mentioned, indicating plans to establish a training institution for pilots in the UAE or broader Middle East region.
The company anticipates that a significant number of orders will originate from government organizations within the UAE.
Jetex, a UAE company, has reportedly placed an order for over 100 of PAL-V’s flying cars, contributing to a total of pre-orders worth over 150 million euros.
Currently, both Archer Aviation and Joby are preparing to launch flying taxi services in the UAE either later this year or early next year.
Archer has previously announced plans for test flights of its Midnight aircraft in the summer in the UAE, ahead of the official commencement of flying taxi operations in the region.
In January 2025, the first commercial vertiport for flying taxis in the UAE was named Dubai International Vertiport (DXV), symbolizing both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
As of April 2025, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, known as EASA, provided a ‘No Technical Objection’ to PAL-V. The company has ambitions to introduce eco-friendly flying cars with four-seat configurations in the coming years.
Hussain Almahmoudi, CEO of SRTIP, stated that the emergence of flying cars indicates a keen interest in sustainable transportation within the UAE and the surrounding region.
“As our population grows and the region develops, alternative transportation methods will be essential, and this technology could serve various needs, from tourism to emergency services,” he expressed.
“We are eager to see these innovations develop at SRTIP. With over 20 educational institutions and 40,000 students here, we have established a solid foundation for producing modern technologies and 3D components,”
added Juma Abdulla Alhaj, director of strategic communications and marketing at SRTIP, mentioning their willingness to partner with PAL-V to set up an assembly facility for its flying cars.