The UAE is preparing to welcome its first hospital-based vertiport, marking a major step forward in medical mobility and smart transport. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi announced on Wednesday, October 8, its partnership with Archer Aviation Inc. to convert the hospital’s existing helipad into a dual-use facility for both helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The new vertiport will allow air taxis to take off and land directly at the hospital, enabling patients to access healthcare services within minutes and transforming how emergency medical operations are conducted in the region.
It will also support critical functions such as time-sensitive organ transport, offering a faster and greener alternative to traditional ground ambulances.
Archer’s electric aircraft, the Midnight, will serve as the backbone of these operations. Designed to carry four passengers, the Midnight offers a quieter, cleaner, and more energy-efficient ride compared to traditional helicopters.
Its advanced design allows for rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charging time, ideal for both emergency and passenger transfers.
Bryan Bernhard, Chief Growth and Infrastructure Officer at Archer Aviation, said the initiative goes beyond transportation, describing it as “connecting not just places, but pillars of life in Abu Dhabi.”
This development builds on Archer’s expanding footprint in the UAE. Earlier this year, the company received approval for a hybrid vertiport at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, which served as the site of the capital’s first successful eVTOL test flight in June.
During that test, EHang’s EH216-S, a pilotless two-seater eVTOL aircraft, took off and landed smoothly on the terminal’s helipad, showcasing the viability of advanced air mobility in the emirate.
The upcoming hospital vertiport is expected to play a dual role — accommodating emergency transfers for critical patients and organs, as well as serving short-distance passenger routes connecting key urban destinations.
These trips will significantly cut travel times, reducing commutes that currently take 60–90 minutes by car to just 10–30 minutes by air.
Archer has also partnered with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) to facilitate flight operations, pilot training, and community engagement ahead of the official rollout of flying taxi services.
The company aims to launch passenger flights in Abu Dhabi by the end of the year, positioning the UAE as one of the first nations globally to integrate eVTOL technology into daily transportation.
With its first hospital-based vertiport, Abu Dhabi is cementing its role as a global leader in advanced air mobility. The collaboration between Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Archer Aviation, and UAE authorities underscores the nation’s commitment to sustainable innovation and rapid-response healthcare — signaling that the future of flight has arrived in the heart of the Gulf.