The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority has signed off design plans to convert an existing cruise terminal helipad in Abu Dhabi into a hybrid heliport suitable for both helicopters and eVTOL aircraft.

Archer is overseeing the redevelopment in partnership with Falcon Aviation Services, working closely with the GCAA and with plans to commence early operations alongside Abu Dhabi Aviation. This location is expected to become the emirate’s first hybrid vertiport ready for commercial air taxi services.

The GCAA has developed what it describes as the world’s first regulatory standards for hybrid infrastructure, aimed at enabling safe, interoperable operations from single sites. These rules are being finalised following industry input and are set to be published by July 2025.

Upgrades to the site will include electric charging capabilities and enhancements to the landing and safety systems, using existing infrastructure to avoid the cost and delay of new-build vertiports. Archer chose the site for its proximity to a major tourism hub, with over 650,000 annual port visitors and nearby attractions including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Cultural District.

GCAA director general Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi says: “This milestone is not just about infrastructure; it reflects the UAE’s unwavering commitment to innovation and global leadership in advanced air mobility.”

GCAA aviation safety lead Aqeel Al Zarouni adds: “This framework ensures that our air mobility infrastructure is safe, efficient and adaptable, laying the foundation for the seamless integration of both helicopters and next-generation eVTOL aircraft within a unified operational environment.”

Archer co-founder and CEO Adam Goldstein says using an existing facility “allows us to move both quickly and safely, getting critical infrastructure ready ahead of our planned commercial launch.”

Falcon Aviation Services CEO Captain Ramandeep Oberoi says the site’s transformation marks “an exciting new chapter” and supports a broader shift to more sustainable and future-ready mobility.

Dubai-based Air Synapsis supported the apron and airspace design for the vertiport’s development.