New agreements establish Al Ain as a testing and certification hub for electric aircraft.
Abu Dhabi: The UAE is advancing its ambition to become a global centre for advanced air mobility through a series of new agreements focused on supporting the development, testing, certification and production of electric aircraft.
The latest initiative follows a cooperation agreement signed under the patronage of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council between the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Abu Dhabi Mobility and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). The partnership aims to accelerate the growth of advanced air mobility technologies, including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The agreement is expected to enhance Abu Dhabi’s role, with a particular focus on Al Ain, as a hub for aircraft testing, certification and regulatory advancement, while helping attract global companies and specialised talent to the emerging sector.
The UAE aims to go beyond the operation of electric aircraft by developing a complete industry ecosystem that includes aircraft design, manufacturing and future export capabilities.
While no dedicated funding allocation has been announced for the programme, the initiative is supported by broader national industrial strategies. Under the “Made in Abu Dhabi” strategy, Abu Dhabi is targeting Dh369.3 billion in industrial investments, with priority areas including advanced sectors such as aerospace, robotics and smart technologies.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development has also identified Dh11.04 billion in investment opportunities for smart and advanced mobility initiatives through 2027, covering areas such as electric aircraft, autonomous aviation, vertiport infrastructure and smart logistics.
Meanwhile, the Emirates Development Bank has committed up to Dh30 billion in financing under the UAE’s Operation 300b strategy to support advanced manufacturing and technology-driven industries, including the aviation sector.
Under the latest agreement, government entities will collaborate on developing certification frameworks for next-generation aircraft, establishing safety and operational standards, and supporting testing programmes that align with international aviation requirements.
The initiative will also support the development of engineering centres, aircraft manufacturing facilities, research laboratories, testing infrastructure, dedicated air corridors and future vertiport networks.
In a separate development, Abu Dhabi Mobility signed a memorandum of understanding with ADNOC to explore the adoption of smart and autonomous mobility solutions across land, maritime and air transportation networks.
The partnership will assess the potential use of eVTOL aircraft to connect ADNOC’s onshore and offshore facilities with future vertiport locations, while also examining pilot projects involving autonomous vehicles and smart maritime mobility solutions.
Abu Dhabi Mobility has also partnered with Space42 to develop a national geospatial navigation platform designed to deliver real-time transport data and support the growth of smart city services.
Another agreement with Versa Aerospace will focus on advancing autonomous and unmanned systems across air, land and maritime sectors while building local capabilities and expertise.
Dr Abdullah Hamad Al Ghafli, Acting Director-General of Abu Dhabi Mobility, said the agreements highlight the centre’s commitment to collaborating with government and private sector partners to develop smart mobility solutions that contribute to Abu Dhabi’s long-term growth and innovation goals.
Industry experts believe electric aircraft will become an increasingly important part of urban transportation over the coming decade, with countries that invest early in manufacturing capabilities and certification frameworks positioned to benefit from emerging export opportunities, skilled employment and sustainable economic growth.
