SHERIDAN, WYOMING - December 15, 2025 - XPENG AEROHT has secured a manned aircraft special flight permit from the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for its modular flying car "Land Aircraft Carrier" in Ras Al Khaimah, enabling manned flight tests across the country and marking a notable step in the overseas commercialization of China's low-altitude eVTOL technology.
Aviation permission becomes a market-entry signal for advanced air mobility
The permit, granted in Ras Al Khaimah, is positioned as the first such authorization obtained by a Chinese flying car company overseas. For B2B stakeholders-from mobility operators to public-sector agencies-regulatory access is often the gating factor that turns "future mobility" narratives into measurable pilots, procurement conversations, and infrastructure planning.
The ceremony also underscored the geopolitical and institutional visibility of the program, attended by senior UAE officials and witnessed by the Chinese Ambassador to the UAE. In markets where airspace governance is tightly controlled, this level of coordination can accelerate testing cadence and help clarify requirements for certification pathways.
Strategic agreement targets certification progress and real-world scenarios
Alongside the permit, RAK Transport Authority and XPENG AEROHT signed a strategic agreement to collaborate on flight certification and scenario applications. Under the agreement, XPENG AEROHT will leverage the UAE's policy environment and geographic advantages to explore government transportation, tourism, emergency rescue, and other scenarios-aiming to build demonstration projects that elevate Ras Al Khaimah's profile in future mobility.
"This cooperation cannot be achieved without the expertise of General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE and RAK Civil Aviation Department. We also highly appreciate the great support from the Ras Al Khaimah government, the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Consulate General in Dubai," stated Mr. Zhao Deli, "We believe an open, innovative environment in the UAE will provide an ideal platform for flying car technology validation."
H.E. Eng. Esmaeel Hasan AlBlooshi, Director General of RAKTA, said: "The success of this first demonstration represents a new achievement that enhances Ras Al Khaimah's position as a hub for cutting-edge global innovations. Our collaboration with XPENG AEROHT reflects an innovative and strategic partnership with the Chinese side, aligned with Ras Al Khaimah's vision to support pioneering projects based on technology and knowledge."
Demonstration flight performance supports operational credibility
At Jazirah Aviation Club in Ras Al Khaimah, the self-developed Land Aircraft Carrier was flown by a test pilot and demonstrated stable performance through hovering, 360-degree rotations, and coordinated turns. Before the manned flight, the aircraft had already passed on-site inspections by the GCAA of the UAE and the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority-an important step for validating operating discipline and test readiness.
For public-sector and enterprise buyers, these demonstrations matter less as spectacle and more as early indicators of repeatability, safety culture, and how quickly a platform can move through defined testing milestones.
Product design focuses on usability and smart flight assistance
XPENG AEROHT's positioning emphasizes simplification and digitization, replacing complex mechanical instrument panels with an integrated smart display system. The aircraft supports both automatic and manual flight modes, with autonomous capabilities including intelligent route planning, auto-pilot navigation, one-touch takeoff/return, 3D composite vision, AI perception warnings, and landing visual aids.
The company also highlights an aerial autopilot system that enables pilots to override autonomy via joystick control, while an intelligent flight control system continuously monitors and safeguards flight attitude within predefined parameters. For adoption, these features are aimed at reducing training burden and improving operational consistency-two key determinants of whether eVTOL concepts can scale beyond limited pilots.
Why the Middle East could become the first overseas market
The UAE has been promoting low-altitude economy policies and attracting global participation in Smart City initiatives, and XPENG AEROHT indicated it may prioritize the Middle East as its first overseas market. If that trajectory holds, near-term opportunities may concentrate around regulated route pilots, government-backed demonstration corridors, and use-case validation where speed-to-scene or tourism differentiation can justify early deployment.
For full product details on the "Land Aircraft Carrier" modular flying car, visit https://www.aridge.com/x3.