Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has teamed up with Archer Aviation Inc. to build the UAE’s first hospital-based vertiport, providing direct access for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This facility will significantly cut down travel time to and from the hospital, offering a faster alternative to traditional ground transport.
The initiative will support both non-emergency passenger travel and urgent organ transportation, using Archer’s electric aircraft, Midnight, which is built to carry four passengers with lower noise and emissions than standard helicopters.
As part of the project, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s existing helipad will be upgraded to accommodate both helicopters and eVTOL aircraft. This development is a key milestone in Archer’s rollout of commercial operations in Abu Dhabi.
“This partnership showcases the breadth of Archer’s network vision — connecting not just places, but pillars of life in Abu Dhabi,” said Bryan Bernhard, Archer’s Chief Growth & Infrastructure Officer. “Following our first hybrid vertiport approval at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal earlier this year, this next location demonstrates how Archer and the GCAA are working together to unlock a city-wide ecosystem for advanced air mobility.”
Recognized globally for its top-tier healthcare and as a hub for medical tourism, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi expects the vertiport to improve accessibility for patients and visitors alike.
“We are excited about the partnership with Archer to advance access to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s patient-centered care,” said Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “This new mode of emission-free transport aligns with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s commitment to sustainability, gives additional options to many patients travelling to our hospital for care, and provides our thriving organ transplant program with fast logistics.”
Archer is working closely with the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to expand its network of hybrid vertiports across the capital, converting helipads into certified takeoff and landing hubs as part of Abu Dhabi’s broader vision for advanced urban air mobility.
