An artist's impression of the UAE’s first hospital flying taxi port at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. SUPPLIED

The UAE’s vision for futuristic transport has taken another leap as Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi announced plans to build the country’s first hospital vertiport — a dedicated hub for flying taxis. In partnership with Archer Aviation, the vertiport will serve as a landing and take-off zone for Midnight aircraft, which can carry up to four passengers while producing less noise and lower emissions than traditional helicopters. Hospital officials said the service could be used for non-emergency patient transport or critical organ deliveries, dramatically reducing travel time compared to ground transport. “This new mode of emission-free transport aligns with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s commitment to sustainability, gives additional options to many patients travelling to our hospital for care, and provides our thriving organ transplant programme with fast logistics,” Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, announced on Wednesday (October 8). While there is no announced date yet for when the vertiport will become operational, it marks another milestone in the UAE’s push for smart and sustainable transport, which already includes plans for driverless taxis, delivery drones, and inter-emirate air taxi networks. Just last month, Ras Al Khaimah signed an initial agreement to introduce its first air taxi service by 2027, offering 15-minute flights between Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. ICA/Expat Media
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