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Saudi will produce solar-powered drones: Saudi Arabia’s Qaddiya Air has signed an agreement with France’s autonomous drone maker XSun to establish a factory producing solar-powered drones in Riyadh, XSun’s CEO Benjamin David told Asharq Business last week. The factory is set to begin operations early next year and XSun will fully transfer the tech to Saudi Arabia within three years, Qaddiya Air’s Mohammed AI Harbi told Ashraq. The initial phase will include making two drones for USD 10 mn, including spare parts for six drones. The agreement includes training local cadres and pilots on the maintenance and operation of the drones, according to David.
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What we know so far: The zero emissions drones — capable of flying for 12 hours during daylight and 4 hours at night — are designed for various applications, including reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and agricultural surveillance.
A big year ahead for Saudi green aviation: Test flights for the eVTOL aircraft Saudi Airlines purchased from Germany’s Lilium are set for February 2025. The tests will be followed by training pilots and developing infrastructure until deliveries start to trickle in by 2H 2026. Saudi Arabia’s pilotless, two-person EH216 eVTOL — which can fly for up to 40 km — also completed its first trial last June, with more trials scheduled to support the Hajj season next year.
There’s more to come: US eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation — backed by Saudi Jameel Investment — inked a partnership agreement with Aramco subsidiary Mukamalah Aviation to deploy eVTOLs in Saudi Arabia last May. Mukamalah and Joby would work with Saudi’s General Authority of Civil Aviation to speed up Joby’s entry into the domestic market and line up direct eVTOL sales to Mukamalah. Brazilian company Eve Air Mobility and German flying taxi maker Volocopter are also active in the Kingdom.
IN OTHER GREEN MOBILITY NEWS-
Abu Dhabi edges closer to launching air taxi operations: US-based eVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation signed an agreement to launch commercial air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi, according to an Abu Dhabi Media Office statement. This comes after the company signed a framework agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) for the operational enablement of air taxis in the country, and to locally manufacture Archer’s aircraft and build vertiports in April. Archer Aviation’s Midnight eVTOL — which will serve as a flying taxi in Abu Dhabi next year — completed a transition flight at over 100 mph during testing in the US last June.
Who’s involved? Parties involved in the new agreement include Adio, Abu Dhabi Airports, Falcon Aviation Services, Etihad Aviation Training, the General Civil Aviation Authority, Global Air Navigation Services, Global Aerospace Logistics, and the Integrated Transport Center (Abu Dhabi Mobility).
