ARIDGE and UAE Authorities to Jointly Establish the World's First Personal Flying Car Regulatory Sandbox

Company deepens its UAE presence through flight validation, airworthiness activities and preparations for future inter-emirate advanced air mobility services.

RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE, Sept. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ARIDGE (Formerly XPENG AEROHT), Asia's largest flying car company, officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and under the full oversight of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the two parties will jointly establish an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) regulatory sandbox in the UAE, while simultaneously advancing the planning and implementation of an inter-emirate demonstration route connecting Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.

The cooperation marks a major industry breakthrough, making ARIDGE the first Chinese flying car company to enter a national-level regulatory sandbox in the Middle East, while also establishing the world's first flying car testing sandbox dedicated to personal low-altitude flight.

Through the regulatory sandbox led by RAKTA (Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority), ARIDGE will conduct flight validation under desert conditions, evaluate aircraft performance across representative operational scenarios and refine procedures within controlled airspace. The program will provide a structured environment for the company to validate its technology and operating model while working closely with relevant authorities and industry partners.

The planned Abu Dhabi–Ras Al Khaimah demonstration route will serve as a real-world platform for assessing the requirements of future inter-emirate advanced air mobility services. The program is expected to cover key operational areas, including flight planning, airspace coordination, ground support, passenger handling, aircraft turnaround and safety management.

By combining aircraft validation, regulatory engagement and route-based operational testing, ARIDGE aims to build a comprehensive foundation for the safe and compliant introduction of commercial air-mobility services in the UAE. His Highness Sheikh Saud said: "The true value of technology lies in the difference it makes to people's lives and in its ability to support development and improve services." He noted that "Ras Al Khaimah is harnessing innovation and new technologies to support the growth of its economy, enhance quality of life, strengthen the Emirate's competitiveness and reinforce its position as a preferred destination to live, work, invest and visit."

As part of its recent activities in the UAE, ARIDGE also conducted a live formation flight demonstration of its modular flying car, the Land Aircraft Carrier, at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy celebrating the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China and the 42nd Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the UAE at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. Attended by the Chinese Ambassador Zeng Jixin, and representatives of the UAE government and business community, as well as international guests, the demonstration offered partners a firsthand view of ARIDGE's technology.

The Land Aircraft Carrier embodies ARIDGE's vision of integrating ground and air tourism into a flexible solution. Its modular configuration is designed to expand the practical applications of ground and air vehicles while creating new possibilities for how people experience the sky. With safety at its core, ARIDGE's advanced flight control system allows pilots to override autonomous functions while maintaining stable flight within safe parameters. The air module includes fully redundant systems for propulsion, power, communications, and flight control, with automatic rotor failure response in milliseconds.

ARIDGE's entry into the regulatory sandbox and advancement of the demonstration route mark an important step in its global expansion. The UAE program will generate valuable operational experience and support ARIDGE in developing localized, scalable advanced air mobility services, while accelerating the company's broader global expansion across key international markets, including Europe and Southeast Asia.

ARIDGE Media Contacts:

Amanda Chen
Email: [email protected]

Kevin He
Email: [email protected]  

Media Kit: 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FVNBspOTNkU4ZXn_C-WbkfzR23JLPiOR?usp=sharing

About ARIDGE (formerly XPENG AEROHT)

ARIDGE is the largest flying car company in Asia and an integral part of the XPENG Group ecosystem. Our vision is to become the "Global Leader in Low-Altitude Product Innovations", and our mission is "Freedom to Fly". We are committed to creating safe, intelligent low-altitude mobility products, such as flying cars, for a variety of user needs. Whether it's personal flight, aerial commuting, or public services, we are driving the transformation of low-altitude mobility, bringing the freedom and convenience of flight to everyone.

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Website: https://intl.aridge.com/

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