The decision was announced following a meeting of the Sharjah Executive Council (SEC) held on Tuesday at the Sharjah Ruler’s Office.

The Council approved the commencement of a study into a modern air transport project, including air taxis and cargo services, in the Emirate of Sharjah.

The project aims to further consolidate Sharjah’s position as a key hub for air connectivity between cities, in line with global trends in sustainability and future technologies, and in cooperation with leading international partners.

While the project is currently in the feasibility study phase, the approval signals Sharjah’s commitment to embracing advanced air mobility solutions that could transform urban transportation in the coming years.

The Council has also discussed a range of general matters relating to the progress of government work and reviewed the public policies of government departments and entities and their role in achieving the vision and strategy of the Emirate of Sharjah.

In implementation of the directives of Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to ensure a dignified standard of living and support Emirati families, the Council also approved the first batch for 2026 of beneficiaries of residential and investment land grants, totalling 1,200 beneficiaries across all cities and regions of the Emirate of Sharjah.

Of these, 490 beneficiaries were allocated residential plots, while 710 beneficiaries received investment plots.

UAE’s Advanced Air Mobility

The UAE is positioning itself at the forefront of advanced air mobility with plans to roll out electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi services across multiple emirates.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have already unveiled roadmaps and partnerships to launch commercial operations, and with Sharjah now announcing its own plans, it becomes the fourth emirate to formally outline ambitions for air taxi services.

With certification expected this year, commercial operations could begin in 2026, making the UAE one of the first countries globally to launch such services.

In Abu Dhabi, authorities have already conducted successful test flights at Al Bateen Executive Airport ahead of a planned commercial rollout.

Abu Dhabi Airports has unveiled plans for a network of more than 10 vertiports (dedicated vertical take-off and landing hubs) across key urban and transit locations to form an integrated ecosystem.

Initial routes are expected to enhance airport-to-city and intra-emirate connectivity, with future goals to expand to Al Ain and beyond.

Dubai’s efforts have included the first successful flying taxi test flights, with infrastructure development underway, including a vertiport at Dubai International Airport and plans for additional sites like Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.

These services aim to drastically cut travel times within the emirate and, eventually, between emirates.

Meanwhile, in Ras Al Khaimah, an agreement will see flying taxis connecting Dubai to Al Marjan Island and onwards to Jebel Jais by early 2027, reducing a more than one-hour road trip to under 15 minutes.