Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, October 8, 2025 – Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has announced plans to develop the UAE’s first hospital-based vertiport in partnership with Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR), marking a major milestone in the nation’s move toward advanced air mobility. The project will be developed under the General Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) new hybrid conversion framework.
The planned vertiport will provide direct eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft access to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, enabling passengers to travel to nearby locations in just minutes and significantly reduce travel times compared with traditional ground transport.
The collaboration will explore both non-emergency passenger flights and time-critical organ transport, using Archer’s Midnight electric aircraft — a low-emission, low-noise eVTOL designed to carry up to four passengers. The aircraft’s cabin configuration will serve both passenger and medical logistics needs.
Archer will support the hospital in upgrading its existing helipad to accommodate both traditional helicopter and eVTOL operations, as part of its broader plan to launch commercial services in Abu Dhabi.
“This partnership showcases the breadth of Archer’s network vision – connecting not just places, but pillars of life in Abu Dhabi,” said Bryan Bernhard, Chief Growth & Infrastructure Officer at Archer. “Following our first hybrid vertiport approval at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal earlier this year, this next location demonstrates how Archer and the GCAA are working together to unlock a city-wide ecosystem for advanced air mobility.”
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, recognised internationally for its world-class medical care and a major hub for medical tourism, sees the new vertiport as a way to enhance accessibility and sustainability.
“We are excited about the partnership with Archer to advance access to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s patient-centred care,” said Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “This new mode of emission-free transport aligns with our commitment to sustainability, gives additional options to patients travelling for care, and supports our organ transplant programme with faster logistics.”
The initiative builds on Archer’s expanding vertiport network in the UAE, leveraging the GCAA’s regulatory framework for hybrid vertiports—enabling the simultaneous operation of helicopters and eVTOLs. Archer plans to continue collaborating with leading institutions across the capital to convert existing helipads into certified vertiports, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision for advanced air mobility.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: ARCHER AVIATION
