No More Traffic Please: Dubai Residents Call For Flying Taxis

Tired of road traffic, the citizens of the Emirates are calling for alternative transport systems. Traffic as we all acknowledge is a universal headache and would you fancy flying above the messy street in flying taxis? Like in the post-apocalyptic movies? Well, UAE is close up to that mission, of implementing aerial transportation, claims myriads of reports.

According to YouGov research on the topic, 78% of UAE citizens who consider traffic in their city to be a serious worry say flying taxis are a decent alternative. Additionally, 78% of them believe that flying taxis will reduce traffic congestion and offer mobility alternatives.

YouGov’s Omnibus used its panel of more than 20 million people worldwide in November 2022 to collect the mentioned data online from residents of the 2008 UAE and KSA.

However, roughly 77% think that this mode of transportation may not be suitable for everyone and will only benefit a small portion of society.

Test, Trial, And Attitude Towards Flying: Data Reports

The first public flight of a flying car created by the renowned tech company Xpeng, a producer of electric vehicles, took place recently at Gitex Global 2022, the world’s largest tech show.

With the help of its official partner, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, the flying car, known as X2, successfully completed its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) in the emirate.

Due to these demonstrations and tests, residents of the UAE now have a favorable opinion of flying taxis and are also more likely to use these services in the future.

Additionally, Abu Dhabi Airports and the French engineering and operations firm Groupe ADP signed a memorandum of understanding for the use of flying taxis to transport passengers to their homes or hotels.

Seven out of ten people who think traffic in their city is a major concern said they are very or somewhat likely to take a flying taxi, compared to 58 percent of those who do not think traffic is a problem.

Additionally, while the youngest group of respondents (18-24 years) was more likely than others to say that flying taxis are unsafe, 59 percent of UAE residents between the ages of 25 and 34 have favorable attitudes toward them (at 24 percent).

Similar Trends In The GCC: Saudi Arabia

Similar attitudes were observed in Saudi Arabia, where the majority (57 percent) agree that traffic is a major concern in their city, but less so than in the UAE, according to the YouGov data.

Residents of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are equally likely to think that flying taxis are a safe option and to use this mode of transportation in the future.

Quick Alternatives: New Roads Opened

The opening of three new roads is expected to reduce traffic in Dubai, according to a report from Monday. Al Quoz 2, Nad Al Sheba 2, and Al Barsha South 3 are the roads. The three new roads, which total 37 kilometers in length, are expected to reduce traffic on Hessa Street, one of Dubai’s busiest commuter corridors.

The construction of internal roads in “residential districts is a manifestation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai”, according to a tweet from the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).