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Archer Aviation has successfully completed the first test flight of its Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, marking a major milestone in the company’s plan to launch commercial air taxi operations in the UAE.
The flight test focused on evaluating the aircraft’s vertical take-off and landing performance under UAE-specific conditions — high temperatures, humidity, and dust exposure — as part of Archer’s preparations for regional certification and deployment.
The company said it will continue expanding its flight testing programme in the region to gather additional data to support its certification and commercialisation efforts in both the UAE and other key markets.
The flight was conducted with the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) and was attended by senior leadership from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Abu Dhabi Airports, as well as representatives from Archer’s regional partners.
Archer test flight marks key milestone for Abu Dhabi’s plans to drive urban air mobility
“This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility,” said Badr Al-Olama, director general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. “Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) Cluster, we are enabling companies like Archer to test, certify and scale next-generation air mobility solutions, reinforcing our position as a global launchpad for innovation and a hub for transformative technologies.”
“Our initial test flight operations in the UAE represent a critical milestone as we prepare for our commercial deployment in Abu Dhabi,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation. “Testing our aircraft in actual operating conditions in the middle of summer provides us with the data we need to progress our commercial and certification efforts both in the UAE and in the US.
The test flight supports Archer’s Launch Edition commercialisation programme with Abu Dhabi Aviation, which aims to establish electric air taxi services in Abu Dhabi.
The programme reflects Archer’s strategy to launch commercial operations in key early adopter markets.
The announcement follows recent progress by Archer in the UAE, including regulatory design approval for the country’s first hybrid heliport at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal and ongoing partnerships with leading regional operators.
Read: Archer secures approval for first hybrid heliport
