Archer has completed the first flight of its Midnight aircraft in Abu Dhabi, marking a major step toward its commercial launch in the UAE. Conducted at Al Bateen Executive Airport with support from the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, the test assessed the aircraft's VTOL performance under local weather and environmental conditions.

Attendees included senior representatives from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi Aviation and Abu Dhabi Airports. Archer will now expand its regional testing programme to support certification and future operations across the UAE and other early adopter markets.

“This flight marks a significant step towards realising Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead the world in advanced urban air mobility,” says H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. “Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry Cluster, we are enabling companies like Archer to test, certify and scale next-generation air mobility solutions.”

“Our initial test flight operations in the UAE represent a critical milestone as we prepare for our commercial deployment in Abu Dhabi,” adds Archer CEO and founder Adam Goldstein. “Testing our aircraft in actual operating conditions in the middle of summer provides us with the data we need.”