EHang'sEH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft has successfully completed its first passenger-carrying demo flight in Abu Dhabi, marking the first of its kind in the UAE and Middle East. Additionally, the EH216-F (for high-rise firefighting) and EH216-L (for aerial logistics) made their debut flights in the UAE, showcasing a diverse range of UAM use scenarios.

EHang founder, CEO and chairman Huazhi Hu says: "After securing the approval for passenger-carrying demo flights and conducting the debut flight, we will actively foster collaboration and communication between the GCAA and the Civil Aviation Administration of China to expedite the progress towards commercial flights of our pilotless aircraft in the UAE, which will become a milestone in the advancement of Abu Dhabi and the global air mobility sector. With strong local government support and valued partnerships, EHang is poised to continue leading the change of UAM in the UAE and beyond."

The EH216 series aircraft performed a number of autonomous flights at the Emirates Falcons Aviation Club in Al Ali, Abu Dhabi with the approval of the GCAA. Mohamed Al Dhaheri, board member of Multi Level Group (MLG), EHang's local strategic partner, took a ride on the EH216-S in front of guests including Emirati royalty, civil aviation authorities, government officials and representatives of the media. He says: "Being part of this historic moment is truly exhilarating. The seamless integration of technology and aviation represents a significant leap forward for our nation and, as an Emirati, I am proud to be a part of it."

The EH216 series aircraft feature a compact fuselage, high redundancy design and intelligent cluster management, enabling safety and efficiency as well as scalable operations, in order to provide safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility.

Following the EH216-S debut unmanned demo flights at the DRIFTx event in April this year, these recent flights show the progress of EHang's further development in the UAE supported by the GCAA, MLG and Wings Logistics Hub. In close coordination with UAE partners and government entities, EHang is actively engaged in the design and establishment of eVTOL vertiports in preparation for launching commercial UAM routes.

EHang expanded into the UAE by joining the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries Cluster and establishing a strategic partnership with Wings Logistics Hub in December 2023, and further established a strategic collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and MLG in April 2024.