Friday, October 3, 2025
Saudi Arabia Partners with EHang to Bring Flying Cars and Air Taxis to the Skies
Saudi Arabia is moving forward with futuristic transport by introducing flying taxis and cargo drones. On September 23, 2025, two Saudi companies — Front End and Cluster 2 Airports — signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese company EHang, a leader in autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs).
This agreement is seen as a big step toward making air taxis and flying cars a reality in Saudi cities. Recommend: Saudi Central Bank issues 7 directives to bank regarding salary transfers
What the MoU Includes
The deal sets a plan to move from trial flights to commercial flying services. Main areas covered are:
➤ Passenger air taxis and cargo drones for transport and logistics.
➤ Urban Traffic Management (UTM) to manage low-altitude flights.
➤ Localisation of expertise to train Saudis and build supply chains.
➤ Regulation and certification by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
The roadmap supports the shift from testing to regular flying operations.
Flying Cars and eVTOL Technology
Saudi Arabia’s project is based on eVTOL aircraft (electric vertical takeoff and landing). These are:
🔘 Electric – eco-friendly, no fuel emissions.
🔘 Autonomous – no pilot needed.
🔘 Quiet and efficient – designed for busy cities.
🔘 Compact—can use small vertiports instead of airports.
Cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and the smart city of the future NEOM might benefit from these in terms of traffic flow, tourist accessibility, and urban logistics. Most Viewed: CMA plans full access for foreign investors in its stock market reform
Key Companies in the Project
🔹 Front End: A Saudi tech and industrial solutions company in Dhahran. It will lead localisation, investment, and integration under Vision 2030.
🔹 Cluster 2 Airports: Operates 22 airports across the Kingdom, providing infrastructure for the new service.
🔹 EHang: The EH216 eVTOL, made by a Chinese AAV manufacturer, was tested all over the world. Aircraft and technical knowledge will be supplied.
There will be aerial traffic systems, cargo drones, and air taxis brought to Saudi Arabia by them all.
Experiments and Rules on Air Taxis in the Past
There have been tests of air taxis in Saudi Arabia:
■ A successful unmanned testing was conducted in Makkah in June 2024, demonstrating the technology's viability in urban settings.
■ August 2024: The Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap, published by GACA, details the certification, management, and integration of air taxis within national airspace.
The Kingdom is now one step closer to actual operations thanks to this MoU, which expands upon those previous steps.
EHang is well-equipped to comply with Saudi regulations because of its extensive global expertise.
Costs and Local Manufacturing Plans
✅ Air taxi rides may start at $200–$400 per passenger, with lower costs expected as services expand.
✅ An EHang EH216 aircraft is priced between $300,000 and $450,000.
The MoU also includes local production in Saudi Arabia:
• Assembly lines with EHang to reduce imports
• Supply chains for batteries, systems, and parts
• Training Saudi engineers and operators for long-term support
This supports Vision 2030’s focus on domestic high-tech industries.
Future of Flying Cars in Saudi Arabia
Within the next few years, Saudi Arabia’s skyline could feature autonomous flying taxis alongside skyscrapers. If successful, the Kingdom will be among the first countries worldwide to launch urban air mobility at scale. Read: Saudi Arabia launched an initiative to correct status for absconding expats
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| Saudi Arabia Partners with EHang to Bring Flying Cars and Air Taxis to the Skies |
