Abu Dhabi is set to become the inaugural international launch partner for Archer, a prominent player in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft sector. As part of this strategic collaboration, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) intends to provide incentives to assist Archer in establishing its first global headquarters and manufacturing facilities within the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (Savi) Cluster located in Abu Dhabi.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), disclosed that the federal authority has already conducted inspections of Archer's Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The GCAA recently visited Archer Aviation's global headquarters in California to inspect the Midnight aircraft and gain insights into their certification progress with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The objective is to grant approval for Archer's air taxi to operate in the UAE once it receives FAA certification. The UAE aims to collaborate with Archer to introduce electric air taxis to the country.
Badr Al-Olama, Acting Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, stated, "We are excited to partner with Archer in hosting their initial international operations in Abu Dhabi. The introduction of electric aviation to the UAE will help alleviate congestion while producing zero emissions and is expected to attract millions in foreign direct investment and create thousands of jobs over the next decade." According to the California-based company, it seeks to revolutionize urban transportation by replacing 60 to 90-minute car commutes with estimated 10 to 20-minute electric air taxi flights.
Adam Goldstein, Archer Aviation's founder and CEO, emphasized that Archer plans to collaborate closely with ADIO and the Department of Economic Development to establish manufacturing and operational facilities for their air taxis in the region. Together, they aim to be at the forefront of making all-electric air taxis a reality in the skies of the UAE and beyond in the coming years.
Archer has raised over $1.1 billion in funding, including investments from Mubadala Capital, United Airlines, Stellantis, and Boeing. Archer is expected to unveil its Midnight aircraft for the first time in the region at the Dubai Airshow and the Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF) hosted by the GCAA in the upcoming month.
Meera Al Suwaidi, Head of Value Creation at Mubadala Investment Company, commented on their collaboration with Archer and their anticipation of the debut of the Midnight aircraft at the Dubai Air Show, along with ongoing discussions about further expanding their partnership.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, expressed excitement about working with Archer to establish a high-volume manufacturing facility for the Midnight aircraft, highlighting the potential for urban air mobility in the Middle East as Archer expands its operations.
Archer's Midnight is a four-passenger piloted aircraft designed for rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charging time between each flight. The company is collaborating with various industry partners across the UAE to support its plans for commercial operations in the UAE by 2026. Archer has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Falcon Aviation to operate its air taxis in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and with GAL-AMMROC to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) support for Archer's eVTOL aircraft.