Abu Dhabi Aviation Group (ADA) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US-based Archer Aviation to launch the first fleet of its Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft globally.
The signing ceremony was attended by Nader Al Hammadi, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Aviation, and Badr Al Olama, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO). During the event, Abu Dhabi Aviation revealed its plan to fund the deployment of Midnight, making it the first operator of electric air taxis in the region.
This pioneering initiative comes as part of Archer’s global “Launch Edition”, which was introduced in partnership with ADA to establish an initial fleet in coordination with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for the safe deployment of air taxi services in the region.
Under the agreement, both parties will create a collaborative framework that enables Archer to develop a pragmatic and repeatable playbook to deploy Midnight commercially in multiple early adopter markets, build operational expertise, generate revenue and continue to enhance long-term demand.
Archer will also provide ADA with a skilled team of pilots, technicians, and engineers to support the initial operational ramp-up, ensuring a safe and efficient deployment. Moreover, Archer intends to offer an integrated software infrastructure, including a booking application, to support UAM operations.
Nader Ahmed Mohamed Alhammadi Chairman – ADA
“We have been observing the advancements in eVTOL technology for years, and we are proud to partner with Archer to bring this innovation to the UAE. As a leading force in the aviation industry across the region and the largest helicopter operator in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Aviation has the expertise to develop a scalable urban air mobility service. We are excited to lead the way in launching the region’s electric air taxi service, starting right here in Abu Dhabi.”
Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer, added that, “The unveiling of Launch Edition marks the beginning of the next chapter for Archer. This is how we’ll bring Midnight from the manufacturing line to our first customers—and it’s a playbook we’ll run repeatedly as we scale our operations globally. Thank you to Abu Dhabi Aviation for being our first Launch Edition customer. We have a big year ahead.”
Archer strives to redefine urban travel, replacing 60–90-minute commutes by car with an estimated 10 to 20-minute electric air taxi flights that are safe, sustainable, and low noise.
Midnight by Archer is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft developed to perform back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.
