RAKTA and Skyports Sign Binding Agreement for Ras Al Khaimah Vertiport Network

• 2024 — Key year
• 202 — Volume / scale

The Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA) and Skyports Infrastructure, a leading global vertiport developer and operator, have signed a binding agreement to design, build, and operate a network of four vertiports across Ras Al Khaimah. The agreement, announced at the Dubai Airshow and confirmed by International Airport Review, establishes the framework for the emirate’s first commercial advanced air mobility (AAM) network, positioning RAK as a pioneer in the GCC for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) operations.

Under the terms, Skyports will develop vertiport sites at strategic locations including Al Marjan Island, RAK International Airport, a downtown Ras Al Khaimah city center hub, and a fourth site in the southern industrial zone near RAKEZ. Each vertiport will feature passenger terminals, charging infrastructure for eVTOL aircraft, air traffic management integration, and seamless intermodal connections with ground transport. The network is designed to serve both passenger and cargo use cases, with initial routes linking tourist destinations, business districts, and logistics hubs.

Skyports, which has developed vertiport projects in Singapore, Paris, Los Angeles, and Dubai, brings its certified vertiport design standards and operational expertise to the partnership. The company’s CEO, Duncan Walker, stated that RAK’s geography — with its compact urban layout, coastline, and mountainous terrain — creates ideal conditions for AAM to deliver meaningful time savings over ground transport. RAKTA Director General Eng. Esmaeel Al Blooshi emphasized that the vertiport network aligns with the emirate’s Smart Mobility Strategy and the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regulatory roadmap for unmanned aerial systems.

The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024 and a series of demonstration flights conducted in RAK airspace using Volocopter and Joby Aviation aircraft. Those trials validated the operational concept, noise profiles, and airspace integration procedures. The binding agreement now triggers detailed design, permitting, and construction phases, with the first vertiport — at Al Marjan Island — targeted for operational readiness by late 2027, coinciding with the Wynn resort opening.

Funding for the network will be structured through a public-private partnership model, with Skyports investing in vertiport construction and operations, while RAKTA provides land access, regulatory facilitation, and integration with the emirate’s broader transport master plan. The GCAA has already issued a regulatory sandbox framework for AAM operations, covering aircraft certification, pilot licensing, and airspace management, which will govern the network’s commercial launch.

For Ras Al Khaimah, the vertiport network represents a strategic leap in mobility innovation. It complements the emirate’s tourism ambitions by offering a novel, low-carbon transport option for visitors moving between hotels, the airport, and attractions. For residents and businesses, it promises reduced commute times — a 45-minute drive from Al Marjan to the industrial zone could become a 12-minute flight — and new logistics capabilities for time-sensitive cargo such as medical supplies and high-value manufacturing components.

The project also strengthens RAK’s Innovation City narrative. Skyports has committed to establishing a regional AAM operations and training center at the RAK International Airport vertiport, creating specialized jobs in vertiport management, eVTOL maintenance, and air traffic control for unmanned systems. This aligns with the Innovation City’s focus on advanced mobility, robotics, and AI, and could attract ancillary startups in fleet management software, battery technology, and urban airspace analytics.

Regionally, the RAKTA-Skyports agreement sets a benchmark for emirate-level AAM deployment. While Dubai has announced its own air taxi ambitions with the RTA and Joby, RAK’s smaller scale and focused network may allow it to achieve commercial operations earlier. The success of this project could catalyze similar initiatives in Sharjah, Ajman, and Fujairah, eventually knitting together a UAE-wide AAM corridor.

Investors and industry observers will watch the Al Marjan Island vertiport as a proof-of-concept for the economic viability of eVTOL services in a tourism-dependent market. Key metrics will include passenger uptake rates, aircraft utilization, turnaround times, and integration with ground transport booking platforms. If the model proves sustainable, it could unlock a new asset class — vertiport infrastructure — for infrastructure funds and sovereign wealth investors seeking exposure to the mobility transition.