Advanced air mobility in MEASA: What airports need to know

Advanced air mobility (AAM) covers electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered aircraft—including eVTOLs—operating within existing airspace and airport infrastructure. For MEASA airports, readiness means building vertiport facilities, updating ground handling, and working within regulatory frameworks like those set by the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Global aviation is changing fast. Researchers project up to 400,000 drones and unmanned aircraft will be operational across Europe by 2050—but AAM is already moving in MEASA. This is no longer a concept, as airport planners, procurement teams, and policymakers across the region now regard it as a live priority. With governments committing capital and manufacturers certifying aircraft, the first commercial AAM operations are closer than most expected.

AAM is a new category of aviation. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines it as an ecosystem that integrates highly automated aircraft into existing airspace. These aircraft use electric, hybrid, or hydrogen propulsion for short-to-medium trips. They include eVTOLs, electric air taxis, autonomous cargo drones, and regional air mobility aircraft.

Traditional aviation involves a single pilot talking to one controller. AAM works differently. Multiple aircraft are managed at once within an automated system. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) set out frameworks expecting initial urban air mobility operations within three to five years of 2022. Certified aircraft and trained pilots are already reaching regulatory milestones.

The market is growing fast. Research forecasts that the global urban air mobility market is projected to grow from USD 2.16 billion in 2026 to USD 16.27 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 20.9%. Vertiport infrastructure is set to expand even faster, with research expecting it to grow from USD 0.4 billion in 2023 to USD 10.7 billion by 2030, at a 62.1% CAGR. Investment decisions made today will determine who benefits in the long run.

MEASA governments have built the future of aviation into national strategy, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the way. The UAE Net Zero 2050 strategy supports AAM integration, and sovereign wealth funds are backing manufacturers and infrastructure developers. The NEOM Investment Fund committed USD 100 million to autonomous vehicle technologies and supported electric seaglider manufacturers.

High-density urban routes—Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Riyadh to NEOM—create natural demand for short-range air mobility. This momentum is putting urban air mobility Middle East projects at the centre of regional planning. Dubai International Airport handled nearly 87 million passengers in 2023, up 31.7% year on year. As surface congestion grows, the case for urban air mobility strengthens.

Greenfield projects and smart city developments give planners a rare opportunity to build AAM airport infrastructure from scratch. Al Maktoum International Airport's expansion is one example. A project of that scale can be designed with AAM in mind from day one, rather than retrofitted later at higher cost. The region's track record of early technology adoption adds to those advantages.

The 25th Airport Show is positioned as an important regional platform for the AAM sector. Attendees will meet AAM exhibitors, join conference sessions on the eVTOL MEASA region ecosystem, and see product launches from leading technology suppliers. It is also a key venue for partnerships, especially through the event’s Business Connect programme, in building relationships with airport and aviation stakeholders.

The region is already producing results. Volocopter and NEOM completed the first electric air taxi flight in Saudi Arabia, testing eVTOL integration with local traffic management. The GCAA is overseeing the certification of multiple eVTOL aircraft for air taxi operations. The Airport Show 2026 is where these threads come together and where industry direction gets set.

Vertiports—facilities with take-off pads, parking, and charging or fueling infrastructure—will need to be integrated into terminal footprints or landside areas. These require dedicated power supply, safety systems, and passenger flow management. They are not minor additions.

Ground handling will also need to change. New equipment, crew training, and high-capacity electrical or hydrogen fueling systems will be required. The skills needed to service an eVTOL are different from those needed for a conventional aircraft. Ground handlers that start workforce planning now will have a clear advantage.

Airspace management will need better tools to handle eVTOL traffic alongside conventional flights. The volume of low-altitude movements AAM introduces requires more automation, better data sharing, and closer collaboration between airports and air navigation service providers.

There are commercial opportunities too. Airport-to-city-centre shuttles, inter-terminal transfers, and business district connections are all near-term options. Multi-modal ticketing can open new revenue streams and improve passenger experience. Autonomous cargo drones are also well-suited to medical supply transport and last-mile delivery to remote areas.

AAM will only work if the industry tackles several connected challenges head-on.

The GCAA follows a structured, evidence-based certification process informed by ICAO and EASA frameworks. Airport operators that engage early in regulatory consultations will be better placed to help shape practical infrastructure standards—rather than simply reacting to them.

Retrofitting existing airports is costly and complex. Planners need to look at funding models—whether vertiports are built by airports, municipalities, or private operators—and assess energy capacity and charging scalability from the start.

Passengers need to trust these aircraft before they use them. Airports play a direct role in building that trust through clear safety communication and transparent operations. The industry can learn from how public acceptance of autonomous vehicles developed over time.

AAM requires specialists in electric propulsion, airspace automation, vertiport operations, and digital traffic management. Regional training programmes will need to evolve to meet that demand.

AAM is arriving faster than many expected. MEASA has real advantages—strong policy support, proven infrastructure, strategic investment, and a history of early adoption. But turning those advantages into leadership takes action now.

Regulatory processes are advancing. Commercial timelines are tightening. The airports that have already begun planning for AAM will have a material head start.

Airport Show 2026 is where those decisions get made. Register now and explore the full exhibitor and conference programme to put your organisation at the centre of what comes next.

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