UAE's AAM Aspirations Take Flight In Ras Al Khaimah

14 Oct 2025

UAE's AAM Aspirations Take Flight In Ras Al Khaimah

RAK leader
HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi inspects cockpit of Xpeng AeroHT

By EVWorld.com Si Editorial Team

In a desert emirate known for architectural ambition and mobility innovation, a Chinese-built flying car has quietly taken to the skies. XPeng AeroHT, the air mobility division of XPeng Motors, has completed its first manned flight tests of the Land Aircraft Carrier in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates - marking a milestone not just for the company, but for the global race toward urban air mobility.

The Land Aircraft Carrier is no ordinary concept car. It is a dual-mode transport system: a six-wheeled electric ground vehicle that houses and deploys a two-seat autonomous eVTOL drone. The drone detaches vertically from the rear of the vehicle and can fly independently, offering short-range aerial mobility for emergency response, terrain navigation, or last-mile logistics. The ground vehicle itself seats five and serves as both a mobile base and charging platform.

In September 2025, XPeng AeroHT received a special manned flight permit from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority - the first such authorization granted to a Chinese flying car company abroad. The test flights, conducted in partnership with the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority, included hovering maneuvers, 360-degree turns, and low-altitude navigation. Government officials and industry observers were on hand to witness what XPeng described as a historic step in its international expansion.

The UAE has positioned itself as a proving ground for advanced air mobility, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi already hosting trials by Volocopter and EHang. Ras Al Khaimah's involvement signals a broader national strategy: to integrate aerial vehicles into smart city infrastructure and reduce congestion on the ground. XPeng's modular approach - combining road and air capabilities in a single platform - aligns well with that vision.

UAE's Strategy for Advanced Air Mobility

The UAE is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to become a global leader in aerial transport innovation. That includes:

Mapping aerial corridors and developing vertiports for piloted and autonomous aircraft
Building regulatory frameworks through the GCAA and Advanced Technology Research Council
Supporting domestic engineering efforts like Autocraft's E20+ eVTOL in Abu Dhabi
Facilitating commercialization through pre-orders, regional partnerships, and GCC-wide deployment

While institutions like TII and ASPIRE are cultivating homegrown expertise, the UAE still relies heavily on imported talent and foreign technology - especially for aircraft design, autonomy systems, and flight operations. The long-term goal is to localize manufacturing and reduce dependence, but for now, international partnerships remain essential.

XPeng AeroHT - now also operating under the brand Aridge - claims to have secured over 600 pre-orders from regional partners. Its next-generation hybrid model, the A868, promises over 500 km of range and speeds exceeding 360 km/h. That vehicle, along with the Voyager X2 eVTOL, expands XPeng's portfolio beyond modular platforms into standalone aerial mobility.

For now, the Ras Al Khaimah tests serve as a high-profile validation of XPeng's engineering and regulatory strategy. The real challenge lies ahead: scaling production, ensuring safety, and integrating these vehicles into complex urban airspace. But if the UAE's skies are any indication, the age of dual-mode mobility is no longer science fiction - it's quietly lifting off.