EHang EH216-S conducts first urban human-carrying pilotless eVTOL flights in the Middle East

EHang completed a landmark series of trial air taxi flights, including point-to-point and human-carrying flights, with its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL aircraft in the core district of Doha, Qatar. Conducted in close partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Transport, these pioneering point-to-point flights between the Port of Doha and the Katara Cultural Village, a prominent landmark in the heart of the city, represent the first urban flights of a pilotless eVTOL aircraft in the Middle East, setting a new benchmark for the future of AAM across the region.

Trial operation campaign demonstrated the real-world potential and future commercial operation value of the EH216-S in Urban Air Mobility scenarios through point-to-point flights between the Port of Doha and Katara Cultural Village—two prominent urban landmarks. This strategic route served as proof of concept for aerial shuttle service connecting transport hubs with key urban destinations. More than just a test flight, it showcased a visionary model for intermodal connectivity, seamlessly linking maritime and aerial transport to bypass ground congestion—transforming a 30-minute car journey into a sustainable, 8-minute flight. It also provides a global reference—the EHang model—for scenario-based flight in advanced air mobility.

These flights marked the first point-to-point flight of the EH216-S pilotless eVTOL in an urban environment in the Middle East, underscoring the technical maturity and operational readiness of EHang´s pilotless eVTOL systems for real-world deployment. It will provide valuable references for civil aviation regulators in the Middle East and other countries worldwide to formulate and promote the improvement of policies and regulations, strengthens the confidence of operators of the EH216-S, and will accelerate the global commercialization of EHang's pilotless human-carrying eVTOLs.

Executed with the operational authorization from the QCAA, and the strategic support of the MOT of the State of Qatar, this flights reflect Qatar’s pioneering vision to lead smart and sustainable mobility solutions in line with its Qatar National Vision 2030. The achievement is the result of close collaboration between EHang, the MOT of Qatar, and the QCAA, working hand-in-hand to ensure the regulatory, safety, and operational readiness of this project.

Minister of Transport of the State of Qatar, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, described the trial operation as a new milestone in the State of Qatar’s journey of adopting smart and sustainable mobility solutions and constitutes an advanced step forward toward a future enabled by innovation and environment-friendly technologies, something that emphasizes MOT’s commitment to enhancing Qatar’s regional and international pioneering position in modern transportation and supporting national efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life.

This initiative, he said, is a true translation of the MOT Strategy 2025-2030 that aims at creating a smart, resilient transportation system where sustainability, innovation, and integration between various transportation modes are front and center, thereby boosting the efficiency of the country’s transportation system and advancing the goals of the Third National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.

Victoria Jing Xiang, Chief Operating Officer for Europe&LatAm at EHang stated: “These groundbreaking flights mark the first-ever trial operations of a pilotless eVTOL aircraft for passenger transport in a Middle Eastern city center. We sincerely thank the MOT and the Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar for their vision, support, and trust. Together, we are building a safe, intelligent, and efficient regional AAM ecosystem.”

These flights campaign is intended to pave the way for a strategic alliance between EHang and the MOT of Qatar to jointly develop and deploy AAM solutions. The pilotless air taxi project will be carried out in several consecutive phases, considering all relevant technical, operational, and regulatory requirements. This includes infrastructure readiness, approval of operational systems, and meeting all safety, security and quality standards to ensure the new mobility system can be safely and effectively integrated into the nation’s mobility network. Key focus areas for future development will include shuttle services between airport and urban centers; air taxi corridors serving tourism and high-traffic zones; and integration of eVTOL systems into Qatar’s multimodal transport strategy.