Archer Aviation Inc., a leader in the development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced the signing of a framework agreement in Abu Dhabi at the DRIFTx mobility event, held at the Yas Marina Circuit showcasing the latest in advanced urban mobility, driving discussions, collaboration, and innovation across the sector.

This agreement covers multi-hundred-million dollar investments to accelerate Archer’s planned commercial air taxi operations in the UAE, slated to launch as soon as next year, including in-country manufacturing, operations and training across the region.

This comprehensive agreement positions Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s leaders in promoting urban air mobility, with plans to commence air taxi operations with Archer’s Midnight aircraft as soon as next year.

Key components of Archer’s collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) include vertiport construction; operational enablement for air taxi operations in the UAE; and in-country manufacturing of Archer’s Midnight aircraft.

Under the agreement, ADIO will also ensure local workforce development programs for Emirati talent and facilitate the establishment of Archer’s international headquarters and Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi.

Under this agreement, ADIO will support the development of vertiports, in collaboration with Archer and other air taxi operators, in critical locations throughout Abu Dhabi, enhancing the urban air mobility infrastructure necessary for Archer to scale operations.

ADIO and Archer first announced their memorandum of understanding at the 2023 launch of ADIO’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster, which aims to transform the future of urban mobility globally by supporting the innovation and commercialisation of smart and autonomous vehicles across land, sea, and air. The framework agreement announced at DRIFTx with Archer represents the culmination of six months of close collaboration between the two entities.

ADIO and Archer will continue to work with Archer’s partners to accelerate the company’s progress in the region. With the support of its early investor and UAE’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, Archer’s partner operators Falcon Aviation and Air Chateau, and GAL-AMMROC have announced plans to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul support for Archer’s eVTOL aircraft.