Joby Aviation, a US-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi startup, has made key advances toward commercializing its air taxi service in Dubai. The company recently completed the Middle East's first piloted wingborne eVTOL test flights in Dubai, marking a milestone in the city's plan to integrate airborne transport into its mobility network by 2026. Joby aims to launch commercial passenger service in Dubai as early as next year, with trips such as Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah potentially reduced from 45 minutes to 12 minutes. The company has secured exclusive rights to operate air taxis in Dubai through 2030 in partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Concurrently, Joby is expanding its manufacturing capacity in the US, doubling production space at its Marina, California facility to 435,500 square feet and ramping up operations in Dayton, Ohio, to support FAA certification, pilot training, and aircraft maintenance. The expanded capacity aims to enable production of up to 24 aircraft annually. Additionally, Joby has partnered with defense contractor L3Harris Technologies to develop a hybrid-powered, optionally piloted eVTOL aircraft for military applications, with flight testing planned for fall 2025 and operational demonstrations targeted for 2026. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt, who has led the company for over a decade, is preparing for commercial service launches first in Dubai, followed by New York and Los Angeles.