Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi joined forces with Archer Aviation to establish the first hospital-based vertiport in the United Arab Emirates, giving eVTOL aircraft direct access to the hospital. The project sought to reduce travel times between the hospital and nearby destinations to just minutes, offering a sustainable alternative to ground transport.

The two companies explored using Archer’s Midnight aircraft for both non-emergency passenger journeys and time-sensitive organ deliveries. The four-passenger eVTOL is designed to operate more quietly and cleanly than a traditional helicopter, using a passenger cabin layout for both purposes.

Archer also planned to support Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in upgrading its existing helipad to accommodate both helicopter and eVTOL operations.

“This partnership showcases the breadth of Archer’s network vision, connecting not just places, but pillars of life in Abu Dhabi,” says Archer’s chief growth and infrastructure officer Bryan Bernhard. “Following our first hybrid vertiport approval at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal earlier this year, this next location demonstrates how Archer and the GCAA are working together to unlock a city-wide ecosystem for advanced air mobility.”

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi CEO Dr Georges-Pascal Haber adds: “This new mode of emission-free transport aligns with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s commitment to sustainability, gives additional options to many patients travelling to our hospital for care and provides our thriving organ transplant programme with fast logistics.”

Archer’s launch network continues to make use of the GCAA’s hybrid vertiport framework, designed to allow helicopters and eVTOL aircraft to share the same infrastructure. The company plans further partnerships to convert existing helipads into certified vertiports aligned with Abu Dhabi’s advanced air mobility strategy.