Drones for passengers to be launched in Dubai

A similar passenger drone on display in Las Vegas last year
Getty Images
Saphora Smith14 February 2017

The city of Dubai is set to introduce people-carrying drones by July, according to local authorities.

Matt al-Tayer, the head of the city’s Roads and Transportation Agency (RTA), said the Chinese-designed drone had already undergone test flights in the United Arab Emirates city.

Mr al-Tayer, who was speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai, said the drone would be able to carry one passenger weighing up to 220 pounds.

According to a video, uploaded by the RTA, the “autonomous aerial vehicle” can travel for up to 30 minutes at speeds of up to 100 miles an hour on a single battery charge.

There are reportedly no controls within the drone and it is instead directed by a remote command centre.

The passenger simply enters the drone and keys in their desired destination and the rest is automated.

Mr al-Tayer told the Associated Press news agency: “This is not only a model, we have actually experimented with this vehicle flying in Dubai’s skies.”

Experts, however, say safety remains a key concern as it is yet unclear how reliable passenger drones are.

The announcement comes after Israeli firm Urban Aeronautics revealed that its passenger drone, which is designed for military use, may be in use by 2020.

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