As part of the Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2022, which took place between 1 and 3 November, Abu Dhabi Airports, established in 2006 to lead the development of aviation infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, signed a memorandum of understanding with French company Groupe ADP, a leader in the engineering and airport operations sectors.
Under the partnership, the two will collaborate to study the potential of advanced air mobility (AAM) in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The joint work will aim to facilitate the incorporation of a vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft ecosystem into the existing airport system.
Under the terms of the agreement, Abu Dhabi Airports and Groupe ADP will engage in the planning, design, development and operation of a ground infrastructure capable of supporting such aircraft operations. To that end, they will conduct feasibility assessments and market studies to establish a roadmap for the future.
Statements by executives of both companies
“We are excited to partner with industry-leading Groupe ADP to explore the potential of introducing AAM to Abu Dhabi”, noted Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports. “This agreement is a testament to our commitment to lead the way by collaborating with our partners to deliver innovation and technology that drives efficiency, convenience and, most importantly, sustainability”, he added.
“We are proud to enter this partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports to collaborate on building the AAM roadmap and accelerating the development of the necessary infrastructure in Abu Dhabi”, commented Philippe Martinet, CEO of Groupe ADP Airport Services. “With our hands-on experience in the Paris region today, and our deep understanding of the industry, its infrastructure and operational challenges, we will be supporting Abu Dhabi Airports in laying the ground for AAM service implementation in Abu Dhabi”, he remarked.
See also: UAM in the Middle East: Saudia interested in acquiring up to a hundred eVTOL from Lilium
