The first prototype of the flying module for China’s “Land Aircraft Carrier”, intended for use in Ras Al Khaimah’s low-altitude flight testing zone, rolled off the production line at the Guangzhou factory of ARIDGE, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker XPENG, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and a member of the UAE Supreme Council, unveiled the aircraft during an official ceremony while visiting the factory. The first UAE-specific prototype was then handed over to the Ras Al Khaimah delegation.

According to China’s official Xinhua News Agency, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and his accompanying delegation inspected the production process, including carbon-fibre body manufacturing and final assembly. Sheikh Saud unveiled the aircraft alongside the founder of ARIDGE and, referring to their partnership, said: “By working together, we can redefine the future of transport. This idea may seem ambitious, but someone must always have the courage to think boldly and take action. That is why we decided to build the future together.”

The aircraft, known as the X3-F, is part of the “Land Aircraft Carrier” system, which comprises a six-wheeled ground vehicle and a two-seat electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The ground vehicle transports and charges the aircraft, which detaches from it for flight. ARIDGE previously said it aimed to keep the price of the complete system below 2 million yuan. The company’s 120,000-square-metre factory in Guangzhou has an initial annual production capacity of 5,000 units, rising to 10,000 units at full capacity.

امارات نخستین خودروی پرنده چینی را تحویل گرفت

The development follows an agreement signed on September 18 between the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority, the emirate’s Civil Aviation Authority and Aridge. The agreement provides for the creation of a pilot zone in Ras Al Khaimah to evaluate flying vehicles, develop safety requirements and review flight regulations. However, the prototype’s rollout from the production line does not mark the start of commercial sales, and the X3-F is still awaiting final type certification in China.

Michael Du, chief financial officer of Aridge, told the Khaleej Times that operational trials could begin as early as 2027 after the vehicles are brought to the UAE, under the supervision of the General Civil Aviation Authority. If licensing procedures and infrastructure preparations are completed, the first commercial deliveries are expected in late 2027, although delays until early 2028 remain possible. The parties also plan to explore demonstration flight routes between emirates, including Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi.

The technology has previously been tested in the UAE. In September 2025, the country’s aviation authorities issued a special permit for a crewed test flight, and one month later, the model completed its first public crewed flight outside China over Dubai. At the time, Aridge also announced agreements to supply 600 of the vehicles to business groups in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.