How the UAE plans to use newly certified Chinese flying cars
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken another step toward futuristic mobility after granting a special flight permit to the “Land Aircraft Carrier,” a flying car developed by Chinese firm XPENG AEROHT.
The certification was issued on Wednesday in Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate, during a ceremony attended by top officials, including Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and Zhang Yiming, China’s ambassador to the UAE.
The permit was formally presented to Zhao Deli, founder of XPENG AEROHT, who praised the UAE’s “open innovation environment” as an ideal testbed for validating flying car technology.
UAE officials say they envision a strategic use of the vehicle to transform public services, including government transport, that is, fast, flexible mobility for official delegations and inter-emirate travel; tourism, offering visitors scenic aerial experiences that merge luxury with futuristic tech; and emergency rescue, rapid deployment in medical evacuations or disaster response, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
At the event, they signed a memorandum of understanding with XPENG AEROHT to collaborate on flight testing certification and real-world applications.
“This partnership enhances the UAE’s global position in smart mobility and low-carbon transport. It also serves as a demonstration for the wider Middle East,” said Esmaeel Al Blooshi, the director general of the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority.
Though at the testing and demo phase, the flying car is a fully electric aircraft designed for urban use with key features including an intelligent large display and single-stick control system; automatic and manual modes for ease of operation; an advanced flight control system to boost safety; low noise levels; and an environmentally friendly design.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
