ARIDGE and Ras Al Khaimah Partner on Flying Car Regulatory Sandbox

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

The collaboration establishes ARIDGE as the first Chinese flying car enterprise to enter a national-level regulatory testing framework in the Middle East. The program focuses on validating autonomous aircraft performance and operating safety standards under regional Gulf desert conditions.

Under the framework, the partners also plan to establish an experimental demonstration flight route connecting Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi to evaluate inter-emirate transit infrastructure. The initiative aims to support the UAE's broader agenda to integrate commercial electric aviation into local transport and logistics systems.