Chinese company Aridge is preparing to launch a flying vehicle for private consumers, comprising a six-wheeled vehicle and a two-seat electric aircraft. Owners can store the aircraft in the vehicle’s rear compartment and detach it for short flights after reaching an approved location. Its launch in the UAE remains subject to regulatory approvals.

Known as the Land Aircraft Carrier, the product has been developed for private ownership and personal use, unlike air taxis from companies such as Joby Aviation, which are designed for commercial passenger transport.

Tan Wang, co-founder and vice-president of Aridge and general manager of design at XPeng, told Khaleej Times how the vehicle works, the technology behind it and the requirements for its use in the UAE.

How does the new flying vehicle work?

The vehicle consists of two independent components: a six-wheeled road vehicle and a two-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft housed in its rear compartment.

Owners can drive the ground vehicle to an approved flying zone and detach the aircraft after reaching the designated location.

According to Wang, detaching the aircraft and reconnecting it to the vehicle are fully automated processes requiring only the push of a button.

He said the mechanism was developed using at least seven different systems and more than 1,000 components.

Once the system is activated, the vehicle’s rear compartment opens and the aircraft is lowered to the ground. An air suspension system also adjusts the vehicle’s position and height to suit the terrain.

After the flight, the aircraft can be returned to the vehicle’s rear compartment through an automated process.

During this process, cameras detect the aircraft’s position and the ground vehicle automatically moves towards it. The suspension system then adjusts the vehicle’s height to align the two components correctly.

Wang said reconnecting the aircraft to the vehicle takes around four to five minutes.

Around 7,000 pre-orders recorded worldwide

According to Wang, Aridge has received around 7,000 pre-orders for the product worldwide, including nearly 600 from GCC countries.

The company said the product was primarily designed to make private aircraft ownership possible without requiring owners to rent a hangar or store the aircraft at an airport.

The aircraft is stored in the ground vehicle’s rear compartment, allowing owners to keep it in a private parking space while complying with relevant parking and vehicle regulations.

However, the pre-order figures do not mean the vehicle has been delivered to customers or approved for public use in the UAE.

Can owners fly from anywhere?

One of the key issues surrounding the use of this vehicle in the UAE is obtaining aviation approvals and designating authorised flight zones.

Wang explained that Aridge must first obtain an aircraft type certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The company will then seek validation of the certificate in the UAE through the General Civil Aviation Authority.

These approvals are essential for the aircraft to operate legally, but obtaining them does not automatically allow owners to fly privately from any location they choose.

Take-off and landing locations, airspace use and individual operating conditions must comply with regulations and permits set by the relevant authorities.

Aridge has also said it is prepared to use existing or planned infrastructure developed by other air mobility companies, including vertiports and helipads.

This approach could reduce the need to establish an entirely independent network of aviation infrastructure, although no final agreement to use these facilities was announced in the report.

Ras Al Khaimah to host new phase of flying car trials

On September 18, 2026, Aridge signed an agreement with the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority and the emirate’s Department of Civil Aviation to establish a controlled testing environment for developing and assessing advanced air mobility technologies.

According to an official statement from the Ras Al Khaimah Government, the partnership builds on previous work with XPeng, which led to a test flight in Ras Al Khaimah in 2025.

The new phase of testing will assess the technology’s performance, safety requirements, airspace regulations and operating procedures for these vehicles.

When will flying cars become available in the UAE?

According to previous statements by Aridge Chief Financial Officer Michael Du, the next phase of operational testing in the UAE could begin in early 2027, provided arrangements for the Ras Al Khaimah testing zone and the transfer of equipment are completed.

The company hopes to begin customer deliveries in late 2027 if the licensing process progresses and the required infrastructure is ready.

However, company officials have said deliveries could be postponed until early 2028 if the regulatory process takes longer than expected.

Therefore, despite progress in developing and testing the technology, the exact date for the public launch of personal flying cars in the UAE remains uncertain. Their legal use will depend on obtaining the necessary approvals, establishing operating regulations and preparing aviation infrastructure.