UAE Approves First Hospital-Based Vertiport for Air Ambulance and Flying Taxi Services
Oct 8, 2025
Abu Dhabi — The UAE is set to launch its first hospital-based vertiport, enabling air ambulances and flying taxis to take off and land directly from a medical facility. This move aims to provide critical healthcare services within minutes, transforming emergency patient transport across the city.
The announcement came on October 8 from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Archer Aviation Inc. The project will convert the hospital’s existing helipad into a dual-purpose vertiport capable of handling both conventional helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The vertiport will allow medical teams and passengers to travel quickly between the hospital and nearby locations, reducing travel times compared to road transport. The service will support urgent medical operations, such as organ transport, as well as non-emergency passenger transfers.
Archer’s Midnight Aircraft to Lead Operations
Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft, designed to carry up to four passengers, will operate from the hospital vertiport. The aircraft is quieter, more eco-friendly, and versatile for both medical and passenger transport. Once operational, Archer will be the first company in the UAE to offer commercial flying taxi services.
According to Bryan Bernhard, Chief Growth and Infrastructure Officer at Archer, this initiative is “a step toward connecting not just destinations, but essential services that support life in Abu Dhabi.”
This hospital vertiport follows the approval of a hybrid vertiport at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal earlier this year, expanding Archer’s growing urban air mobility network.
Flying Taxis to Begin by Year-End
Archer’s flying taxis are expected to start commercial operations in the UAE by the end of 2025. In partnership with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), the company will conduct test flights, pilot training, and public engagement programs over the coming months.
The Midnight aircraft can perform rapid, back-to-back flights with minimal charging time, cutting commute times from 60–90 minutes by car to just 10–30 minutes between emirates.
This hospital-based vertiport represents a major step forward in UAE’s advanced air mobility vision, combining faster healthcare response, urban transport efficiency, and eco-friendly aviation technology.
