Abu Dhabi is developing one of the world’s first regulatory frameworks for autonomous flying taxis and delivery drones as part of a government-led effort to establish the UAE as a testing ground for advanced air mobility.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and ASPIRE, subsidiaries of the Advanced Technology Research Council, are working with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to simulate and test airspace management systems for autonomous flights.
The project is being supervised by the Smart and Autonomous Council which oversees national policy on autonomous systems.
The trials are being conducted at three sites in Abu Dhabi – Yas Island, Zayed Port, and Abu Dhabi International Airport to study wind dynamics, safety zones and flight paths for unmanned and piloted aircraft.
The models will help regulators design air corridors and separation standards for low-altitude urban airspace.
Eng. Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director General for Aviation Safety Affairs at the GCAA, said: “As aviation continues to evolve, our regulatory frameworks must evolve with it. Through this collaboration with TII and ASPIRE, we are laying the groundwork for safe and scalable integration of next-generation air mobility. These trials mark a critical step in ensuring that both Air Traffic Management and UTM systems can operate harmoniously within UAE airspace, supporting our long-term vision for smart, connected cities.”
The project includes a layered airspace design under testing, which would divide flight zones from ground level up to 3,000 feet. Low-level drone deliveries would operate below 500 feet, air taxis between 1,000 and 3,000 feet, and traditional aircraft above that range.
Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII said: “Technology alone isn’t enough to unlock urban air mobility. It must be matched with forward-looking regulations that anticipate the complexities of autonomous flight. Through our collaboration with GCAA and ASPIRE, we’re helping define the global benchmarks for safe, intelligent airspace systems that will support piloted and autonomous air taxis alike.”
The two-year program is also evaluating coordination between traditional Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems and emerging Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems. It is being supported by simulation tools developed with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Andrew Strefford, Executive Director at ASPIRE, said: “Urban air mobility is not just about new technology; it’s also about trust and safety and so policy and regulation are critical for adoption. What we are cultivating in Abu Dhabi is a foundation for global trust in how future cities will connect and operate in their urban and suburban airspace to unlock untapped economic potential in their mobility and logistics sectors. When research, governance, and ambition align, technology becomes a true enabler of progress.”
The initiative supports the GCAA’s long-term goal of developing conditions for piloted air taxis with a forward-looking framework that can eventually extend to fully autonomous passenger and cargo flights.
Dr. Enrico Natalizio, Chief Researcher, Autonomous Robotics Research Center at TII, said: “Simulating real-world conditions before deployment allows us to rigorously test airspace rules and urban air mobility scenarios at scale. This systems-level approach is ensuring our frameworks are not only safe and future-ready, but adaptable to the evolving needs of smart cities.”