Archer to establish international presence in UAE

Archer Aviation Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif., U.S.) has entered into an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), making it Archer’s first international launch partner, with plans to commence air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2026. ADIO plans to support Archer with incentives for establishing its first international headquarters and manufacturing facilities in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) Cluster in Abu Dhabi.

Recently, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) visited Archer Aviation’s global headquarters in California to inspect its Midnight aircraft and learn about the company’s certification progress with the FAA. According to his His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of GCAA, “our goal is to approve Archer’s air taxi to fly in the UAE as soon as it is certified by the FAA.”

Archer says it is still in discussion with other industry participants that it plans to announce Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with in November 2023. The company is currently signed on with Falcon Aviation, which will operate its air taxis across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as GAL-Ammroc, providing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) support for Archer’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

Moreover, Archer is working with global manufacturing partner Stellantis (Hoofddorp, Netherlands), as well as local partners in the UAE, to build out its aircraft manufacturing capabilities and its Center of Excellence in Abu Dhabi. The facility will be focused on the development and implementation of next-generation aviation technologies.

The company has raised more than $1.1 billion of funding to date, including investments from Mubadala Capital, United Airlines, Stellantis and Boeing.

For related content, read “Archer signs contracts with U.S. Air Force for six Midnight aircraft, support operations.”