In a new indication of Dubai’s growing position, a destination for future technological innovations, and a center for international multinational companies to launch their latest innovations in global markets, the emirate recently witnessed the launch of the first exclusive public flight for the electric flying car: “eVTOL” model “Skydive Dubai”. X2” developed by the Chinese company Xpeng, with the support of the official partner Dubai World Chamber, and in the presence of the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai, Li Xu Hang.
The journey of the flying car “X2” was described as marking a new stage in the future of short flights and smart mobility within cities, and an indication of Dubai’s position and reputation, as the capital of innovation, excellence and business, at a time when the Dubai World Trade Center said that today we are witnessing the writing of a new historical chapter starting from Dubai. .
new stage
The first public flight of the “X2” flying car took place at GITEX Global 2022, where the “flying car” performed a smooth vertical take-off and landing for 90 seconds, marking a new stage in the future of short flights and smart mobility within cities.
The public flight of the flying car was organized by Xpeng, in cooperation with its official partner, the Dubai World Chamber, and with the support of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Dubai choice
The choice of Dubai as a destination for this flight of the flying car, and its launch as a new innovation in the world of transport, is the result of unremitting efforts since 2021 by the Dubai World Chamber, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, to attract this global Chinese company, and to attract multinational companies to the emirate. This achievement culminates in the efforts made by the Dubai International Chamber in cooperation with its partners from the relevant government agencies to promote Dubai, a gateway for international companies to the Middle East and North African markets.
extraordinary efforts
Dubai International Chamber has made tireless efforts to help Xpeng expand abroad from Dubai, as it supported the company’s first survey mission to Dubai in 2021, and coordinated important meetings for it over three weeks with various relevant government agencies and departments, and brought the Chinese company together with partners to her.
Incubator for innovation
Hassan Al Hashemi, Acting Director General of Dubai Chambers, said that Dubai is proving once again to the world that it has become, under the vision of its leadership, an incubator for innovation and smart solutions, and a center for global creativity in the service of humanity and sustainable goals. He believed that X-Peng’s choice of Dubai to launch its latest solutions in the field of smart and sustainable transportation is an indication of Dubai’s position and reputation as a capital of innovation, excellence and business.
Historic moments
For her part, Executive Vice President of Exhibitions and Events Management at the Dubai World Trade Center and organizer of GITEX Global, Trixie LohMirmand, said: “GITEX has, over the past years, been home to an unlimited number of pivotal historical moments in which we witnessed the launch of the exhibition. Technology innovations and trends have defined our world. Today, we are proud to host the world’s first exclusive public flight of the eVTOL Model X2 flying car from Xpeng, in partnership with Dubai World Chamber.”
She added that the flying electric car is the future of the mobility sector, and it is astonishing that today a new historical chapter is being written from Dubai, stressing that hosting this event establishes GITEX Global’s position as a major hub in the global transformation process towards relying on low-carbon urban air transport.
Innovation City
In turn, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of X-Peng, Dr. Brian Gu, indicated that it is the first time that X-Peng Aerohut has conducted a public flight for the flying car outside China, considering that the step establishes a new generation of flying cars.
He said: “Dubai is known as the city of innovation that welcomes everything new, and has a clear vision for designing and creating the future of mobility.”
Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the launch of the first and shortest autonomous flight of the prototypes of the “X2” class of unmanned vehicles in Dubai, was under the supervision of it and the Dubai Air Navigation Services Corporation, in cooperation with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and strategic partners.
The authority stated that it had supervised, along with the Dubai Air Navigation Services Corporation, all required tests for unmanned vehicles, which is a unique step in the region.
She explained that the regulation mechanism aims to enable the drone sector to achieve the security and safety of the atmosphere and society, and to make the emirate attractive to such advanced technologies.
The authority has also approved the trial operation of flying vehicles, which is one of the main criteria for the Dubai Sky Dome initiative, and a regulatory pillar for the drone sector, by registering and testing this type of systems and its operational activities, and ensuring their application with the best international practices.
She pointed out that the role of the Dubai Air Navigation Services Corporation aims to establish an integrated system and an ideal environment that keeps pace with and supports such technologies in planning the airspace, in order to ensure the security and safety of the skies, in cooperation with its strategic partners.
She stressed that the aviation sector represents one of the basic components of the local and national economy, thanks to its continuous development, to move forward towards achieving the leadership’s ambitious vision for the UAE to be a global leader in creating the future.
Xpeng: $20.7 billion
Xpeng is a global Chinese technology company specialized in the manufacture of electric cars and the development of intelligent transportation solutions. It is also considered one of the most prestigious international companies listed on the New York and Hong Kong stock exchanges, with a market value of about $20.7 billion.
“Zero” carbon
The X2 has two seats with an intelligent control system with advanced capabilities for self-flying. It is the latest generation of flying cars independently developed by XPENG AEROHT, a subsidiary of Xpeng.
The X2 emits zero carbon emissions during flight, making it one of the sustainable solutions for short commuting, and is designed to fly within cities at low altitudes at a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour.