NEOM Establishes World’s First Public Vertical Mobility System

NEOM Establishes World’s First Public Vertical Mobility System

The signing of an agreement to develop the world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system in NEOM on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM and Germany’s Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility, have established a joint venture company to design, implement, and operate the world’s first bespoke public vertical mobility system in NEOM.

Air taxi and vertical logistics services will be fully integrated with the overall multi-modal and zero-emission public transit system in NEOM.

The venture will be the sole operator of initial public transit routes across NEOM, while enabling an open eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) ecosystem for vertical mobility services, including logistics, emergency response and tourism.

NEOM has placed a confirmed order of 15 Volocopter aircraft to commence initial flight operations within the next two to three years.

“"In designing cities and urban infrastructure for the 21st century, mobility is at the center of the equation,” said CEO of NEOM Nadhmi al-Nasr.

“Through this joint venture with Volocopter, we are demonstrating to the world that NEOM is the ideal region to implement urban air mobility rapidly and create a fully integrated vertical mobility ecosystem.”

“NEOM is on a mission to become a global living lab for future mobility, and we