Ras Al Khaimah is advancing plans for an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) network, targeting the start of commercial passenger services in the third quarter of 2027, Gulf News reported. The Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA) and Skyports Infrastructure have signed a binding Definitive Agreement to develop and operate the infrastructure across the emirate.
The initial phase of the network will feature two vertiports connecting key tourism destinations: Al Marjan Island and Jebel Jais. An additional two vertiports are planned for subsequent phases, subject to business-case evaluations, detailed planning, and regulatory approvals. The system is designed to provide point-to-point transit inside Ras Al Khaimah and later establish inter-emirate connections, with Dubai designated as the first planned route outside the emirate.
The agreement was signed at RAKTA headquarters by RAKTA Director General Eng. Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi and Skyports Chief Executive Officer Duncan Walker, witnessed by RAKTA Chairman Sheikh Omar bin Saqr bin Khalid Al Qasimi. The agreement moves the initiative from strategic planning into physical implementation.
According to the report, the project builds on collaboration initiated in 2024 with a Memorandum of Understanding, followed by a Framework Agreement in 2025. RAKTA stated that the air mobility system is intended to complement existing road networks and public transit while supporting the emirate's broader growth across tourism, hospitality, real estate, and infrastructure.
Sources
- Gulf News · 2026-09-28
