In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA), the Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah, and ARIDGE, an advanced air mobility company under XPENG, signed an agreement to collaborate on the development, testing and deployment of advanced air mobility solutions in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
The agreement was signed on behalf of RAKTA and the Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah, by H.E. Eng. Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi, and on behalf of ARIDGE by Dr. Han Jweishian, Chief Representative for the Middle East. The agreement aims to strengthen joint cooperation and build on the previous partnership with XPENG AEROHT, which saw the Emirate host its first experimental flight of a flying vehicle in 2025.
The agreement was signed during His Highness’s reception of Mr. Zhao Deli, Founder and Chairman of ARIDGE, and the accompanying delegation, during which opportunities for cooperation and prospects for joint work in the fields of advanced air mobility and future technologies were discussed.
The partnership marks a significant advancement in this collaboration by expanding its scope to establish an integrated advanced air mobility ecosystem, create the necessary environment for technology testing and readiness assessment, and explore future operational applications in line with regulatory requirements, safety standards and operational readiness.
Under the agreement, ARIDGE will serve as the Founding Partner of the Ras Al Khaimah Advanced Air Mobility testing hub (AAM Sandbox), becoming the first partner to localize its aircraft and a specialized team in the Emirate. This will support the development of technical and operational capabilities and strengthen cooperation with aviation regulators and relevant authorities.
The AAM Sandbox aims to provide a structured environment for testing advanced air mobility technologies and validating airspace requirements and operational procedures through phased testing and demonstrations. This will facilitate a measured transition from validation and testing to operational trials, in cooperation and coordination with the Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah and the relevant regulatory authorities, paving the way for future applications across transportation, tourism, logistics and emergency response, subject to regulatory approvals in the UAE and operational readiness.
H.E. Eng. Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi, Director General of RAKTA, said:
“The signing of this strategic partnership reflects RAKTA’s commitment to developing an integrated environment for advanced air mobility based on structured testing, safety validation and cooperation with regulatory authorities. This approach will support the gradual transition of these technologies from testing phases towards future operational applications.
The localization of ARIDGE’s aircraft and specialized team in the Emirate also represents an important step towards strengthening local expertise, developing Emirati capabilities and exploring new opportunities to deploy advanced air mobility technologies in support of the Emirate.”
Dr. Han Jweishian, Chief Representative for the Middle East at ARIDGE, said:
“We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority and the Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah, and to serve as the Founding Partner of the Emirate’s Advanced Air Mobility Sandbox. The localization of our aircraft and specialized team represents an important step that will enable us to work closely with RAKTA and the relevant aviation authorities throughout the testing, validation and operational development phases, while contributing to the development of a safe, practical and scalable advanced air mobility ecosystem.”
This partnership forms part of Ras Al Khaimah’s efforts to adopt future technologies, foster an environment of innovation and investment, and strengthen international cooperation in technology and advanced mobility, contributing to the Emirate’s position as a destination for the development and testing of future transport solutions.
