Dubai (Union)
The General Authority of Civil Aviation and the Mohammed bin Rashid Aviation Project in South Dubai have signed a partnership with the company “V Ports”, specializing in the design, construction and management of advanced infrastructure for air transport, to establish the first unified aviation center for advanced air transport in the world in Dubai, for a total cost estimated at about 147 million dirhams (40 million dollars).
The center, the first of its kind in the world, is home to designated flight test airspace, enclosed airspace, and many innovative new technologies that support the global growth of the advanced aviation industry and accelerate efforts to adopt flying electric verticals. aircraft taking off and landing, which contributes to the consolidation of the UAE, to become a globally unique hub in the field of advanced aviation.
VPorts has signed an exclusive 25-year contract, renewable for the same period, with Mohammed bin Rashid Aviation project to establish the center on an area of 37,000 square meters south of Dubai.
The project, which involves an initial investment of US$40 million over three years, is expected to generate gross direct revenues of around Dh26 billion (US$7 billion) over 25 years, as well as create 1,500 direct high-level jobs. Development and construction of the global center will begin in 2023, with expectations that it will begin operating and conduct its first test flight in 2024.
Saif Mohammed Al-Suwaidi, Director General of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, said, “The strategic plan of the General Authority of Civil Aviation aims to develop a sustainable and innovative complex that paves the way for the prosperity of the advanced air transport and broaden the horizons of this new mode of air transport around the world, starting from a unified hub here in Dubai. From our position as a leading institution in the civil aviation sector, we are working to reformulate the regulatory landscape of the sector to benefit from the presence of the main project partners in Dubai, so as to support innovation and technologies related to advanced aviation , and step up efforts to build knowledge capacity in the UAE and beyond.”
For his part, Tahnoun Saif, Executive Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Aviation Project, said, “Our mission in the Mohammed bin Rashid Aviation Project is to attract the most important aviation players in the world to set up their operations in the region and to operate as part of our complete system. We are delighted to sign this agreement with V-Ports to develop the world’s first unified center of its kind, enabling EVTOL aircraft manufacturers and operators around the world to use the leading experimental facilities under various conditions. This step also contributes to the consolidation of Dubai’s position in the field of advanced aviation.
In turn, Dr. Fathi Shebl, founder and CEO of VPorts, said: “Through this historic agreement, Dubai has managed to strengthen its position as a leader in the advanced aviation sector. Today we live in a crucial moment on the road to making the transport solutions of the future a reality. We at (V Ports) are delighted to be responsible for the development of the world’s first unified advanced aviation center. Our presence in Dubai aligns with our strategy and ambition to build and operate approximately 1,500 electric vertical take-off and landing airports worldwide by 2045.”
advanced technology
V-Ports will use its electric vertical take-off and landing airport operations control center in partnership with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and Mohammed bin Rashid Aviation Project as part of the Global Unified Center for the advanced air transport in dubai. The control center will be able to manage air traffic integration and set up communication protocols between electric take-off and vertical landing aircraft, their airports and air navigation service providers.
The VPorts team looks forward to working closely with universities and research groups in the UAE to develop the latest technical solutions needed for the electric take-off and landing airport operations control center and to prepare for the next generation of national innovators and decision-makers who are able to continue efforts to develop the infrastructure of the advanced aviation transport sector in the UAE and the rest of the world.
Dr. Fathi Shebl, founder and CEO of VPorts, revealed that the company looks forward to building the first airport network for vertical take-off and landing electric aircraft to connect key industrial areas in the UAE, covering by 2030 most of the industrial areas of the country to provide sustainable transportation solutions through electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
He explained that these airports will be designed similar to helicopter airports and will be used to conduct vertical take-off and landing electric aircraft take-offs and landings.
