Saudi Arabia Partners With Archer To Launch Air Taxi Services, Invests In Electric Air Mobility

Archer Aviation has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s The Helicopter Company and Red Sea Global to develop and test air taxi services. Archer plans to start operating its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the ‘Midnight’, in Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to introduce air taxis to the country. This partnership is part of the Saudi government's goal to modernise and expand its aviation and tourism sectors in line with its Vision 2030 strategic plan. 

The new partnership will focus on deploying Archer’s eVTOL aircraft for flights connecting airports and city centres to resort destinations, starting with the Red Sea resorts on the kingdom’s west coast. Archer, The Helicopter Company, and Red Sea Global will also work with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to create a controlled testing environment for these operations. Initially, the service will begin with a small fleet and may expand to other projects and regions after successful trials. 

Pilot training, regional testing, and regulatory approvals are underway. Archer is focusing on airport-resort and city-centre connectivity. Saudi aviation authorities have started to set up regulatory infrastructure to support this. Along with Archer’s activities, the GACA released an Advanced Air Mobility Roadmap in 2024, aiming to set guidelines and frameworks for integrating these new systems into national airspace. 

Saudi Arabia is also working with other companies in the air taxi sector. Joby Aviation, a US-based eVTOL developer, has partnered with Red Sea Global and The Helicopter Company for a similar pilot programme. Joby signed an agreement with Abdul Latif Jameel and Aloula Aviation, potentially involving up to 200 aircraft for Saudi operations. These deals are valued at up to $1 billion and support plans to build out an air taxi network across the country. 

Another major deal includes a partnership between Saudi Arabia and China's Ehang, aimed at launching electric air taxis for service in the kingdom. This collaboration is scheduled to begin deployment in late 2025 as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its transport sector.

Saudi Arabia's government supports early adoption of these technologies to improve connectivity and tourism. The partnerships with Archer and Joby align with Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund strategy and tourism mega-projects such as Red Sea, Amaala, Neom, and Qiddiya. Initially, deployments will focus on high-end tourism destinations before broader public use. Saudi authorities are also developing vertiport networks to support air taxi operations. 

These developments are part of Saudi Arabia’s goal to lead in advanced air mobility for tourism and urban transport by 2030.