ARIDGE and Ras Al Khaimah Partner on Flying Car Regulatory Sandbox

Chinese advanced air mobility developer ARIDGE, formerly known as XPeng AeroHT, has signed a strategic partnership with the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah to launch an Advanced Air Mobility regulatory sandbox. The agreement was signed in the presence of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi and operates under the supervision of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority.

The arrangement establishes ARIDGE as the first Chinese flying car enterprise to enter a national-level regulatory testing program in the Middle East. Under the sandbox framework, the company will conduct validation flight tests in regional desert conditions and evaluate operating safety standards to validate autonomous aircraft operation under Gulf operating conditions.

The partnership also plans an experimental flight demonstration route connecting Ras Al Khaimah with Abu Dhabi to test inter-emirate transit infrastructure. The initiative supports the UAE's broader plans to integrate commercial electric aviation into local transport and logistics systems.