A Dutch company is bringing a glimpse of the future to the UAE – and no, it’s not a sci-fi movie. PAL-V, a Netherlands-based firm focused on mobility innovations, has revealed its latest creation: a flying car that could be gliding over UAE cities by 2027.
The launch took place at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), where PAL-V introduced its two-seater model capable of both driving on roads and taking off into the sky. It doesn’t need an airport to lift off — just a 250-metre runway, a full tank, and some clear skies.
This hybrid machine runs on a combustion engine and can cover up to 500 kilometres in flight. So yes, theoretically, you could take off from Dubai and land in Bahrain in just over two hours — without ever stepping on a plane.
Designed for short-distance air travel, the flying car is aimed not just at curious early adopters with deep pockets — the base model is priced at AED 2.9 million — but also at professional sectors: emergency medical responders, border security, or coast guards who need quick, flexible transport. Its total load capacity is limited, though: two people plus 20kg of luggage.
The vehicle folds its propellers away after landing, converting neatly into a regular car. That means it can use existing roads and parking, potentially avoiding the infrastructure hurdles that have delayed other futuristic transport ideas.
PAL-V is targeting a 2027 rollout in the UAE, but that depends on getting the green light from aviation and transport regulators. Meanwhile, other companies are also eyeing UAE skies. Archer Aviation plans to begin flying taxi trials in the region, with Dubai International Vertiport (DXV) already announced as the UAE’s first commercial vertiport set to open later in 2025.
