Qatar conducts successful trial of first autonomous eVTOL urban flight

Qatar has successfully conducted the first trial of a fully autonomous eVTOL air taxi, signaling a major advancement in urban air mobility. The Ministry of Transport (MoT) oversaw the AI-enabled flight, which operated without human intervention between the Old Doha Port and Katara Cultural Village. This trial underscores Qatar's commitment to integrating smart, sustainable, and innovative transportation solutions into its urban landscape. The project aims to establish regulatory and technical frameworks aligned with international best practices, ensuring the safe and effective integration of autonomous air taxis into Qatar’s broader mobility network.

The trial flight leveraged a full self-control system powered by artificial intelligence and advanced air navigation technologies. The MoT will use the results of this trial to establish regulatory and technical frameworks aligned with international best practices. This includes assessing infrastructure readiness, approving operational systems, and ensuring compliance with safety, security, and quality standards. The unmanned air taxi project will advance in multiple consecutive phases, carefully considering technical, operational, and regulatory requirements.

HE Minister Sheikh Mohammed described the trial as a milestone in Qatar’s journey toward smart and sustainable mobility, aligning with the MoT Strategy 2025-2030. Key objectives of this strategy include creating a smart and resilient transportation system, fostering integration between different transportation modes, enhancing sustainability and innovation, and boosting the efficiency of national transportation networks. The initiative supports Qatar’s broader goals under the National Development Strategy 3 (NDS3) and Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030), particularly in reducing carbon emissions and improving quality of life.

The MoT envisions the pilotless air taxi as a safe, fast, and eco-friendly urban mobility option that can reduce traffic congestion and provide efficient transportation alternatives for citizens, residents, and visitors. By continuing to collaborate with leading international partners, Qatar aims to develop infrastructure capable of accommodating advanced modes of transport, positioning itself as a regional and global leader in emerging transportation technologies. This successful demonstration highlights how innovation, technology, and governance are being combined to achieve transformative urban mobility solutions.