Asia Tech Wire (Aug 8) -- California-based electric air taxi company Joby Aviation plans to begin a commercial air taxi service in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the second half of next year, the company's CEO JoeBen Bevirt said on Wednesday.

Joby will likely announce the start of construction of its first infrastructure in Dubai later this year, with first flights in the first half of next year.

Founded in 2009, Joby's goal is to provide passenger flight services in urban scenarios through its self-developed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles.

Joby went public on Nasdaq through a SPAC merger in early 2021, attracting investments from transportation giants such as Toyota, Uber and Delta Air Lines.