SkyCare: UAE Opens First Hospital-Based Vertiport in Abu Dhabi
The UAE launches SkyCare, the first hospital-based vertiport at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, supporting faster, cleaner air ambulance and organ transport services.
On a quiet morning above Al Maryah Island, engineers and doctors stood on the rooftop of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi watching something rare. The UAE officially introduced SkyCare, the first hospital-based vertiport designed for air ambulance and organ transport.
It’s a partnership between Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Archer Aviation, and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The new vertiport is part of the Smart Mobility Vision 2030 and Net Zero 2050, bringing electric air mobility directly into hospital care. This initiative complements the UAE’s broader innovation goals, which also enhance tourism and Desert Adventure Experiences in UAE through sustainable and advanced transportation solutions.
UAE’s Step Toward Air Mobility in Healthcare
For emergency teams, speed often means survival. Traffic, road closures, and unpredictable routes have always slowed medical transfers between cities. The GCAA stepped in with a rule change — the CAR-HVD Part III regulation — that allows hybrid vertiports. This means hospitals can now use their rooftops for both helicopters and electric vertical takeoff aircraft (eVTOLs).
The first real trial came from the DXV Vertiport near Dubai International Airport. After that success, SkyCare became the next move — but this time inside a medical system. By linking hospitals through clean aviation, the UAE aims to cut emissions, noise, and wasted minutes. It’s not a showcase of technology; it’s a step toward faster recovery and more efficient care.
Inside the SkyCare / Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Vertiport Project
The vertiport sits right above the hospital’s emergency and transplant departments. The old helipad was rebuilt with energy-efficient lights, anti-vibration floors, and a renewable-powered charging hub. When you stand there, it’s not loud — more like a soft hum than a helicopter’s roar.
Quick Facts:
- Partners: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Archer Aviation, GCAA.
- Aircraft: Midnight eVTOL, four-seater, fully electric.
- Noise Level: About 45 decibels — suitable for hospital zones.
- Purpose: Air ambulance, organ transport, and specialist transfer.
- Power Source: Renewable grid electricity under UAE Net Zero 2050.
- Target Launch: Expected by 2026 after full-scale testing.
The rooftop connects directly to the surgical floors through a temperature-controlled elevator. Medical staff can transfer organs straight from the aircraft into the operating room in minutes. No traffic lights. No risk of delay. Just clear, direct movement from air to care.
Medical and Operational Impact
Anyone who has waited for an organ transplant knows time doesn’t just matter — it defines everything. The trip between Dubai and Abu Dhabi can take over an hour by road. Using SkyCare’s route, it drops to about twenty minutes. That gap can save a life.
Doctors can also travel between hospitals faster. A cardiac surgeon in Dubai, for instance, could reach Abu Dhabi and return the same day. The Midnight eVTOL runs on electricity, which means no fuel smell, less noise, and no vibration across the hospital walls. Nurses nearby say it feels more like a strong breeze than an aircraft landing.
SkyCare also helps with daily logistics — lab samples, medical supplies, even mobile ICU transfers. The point is efficiency without pollution. Every flight reduces road congestion and cuts carbon output, while keeping medical response consistent.
Regulatory and Infrastructure Framework
Behind SkyCare is a tight system built by the GCAA and the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH). Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi was the first to meet new air mobility and hospital safety standards at once.
Key Framework Points:
- Dual Operations: One pad for both eVTOLs and helicopters.
- Safety Rules: Based on ICAO Annex 14 Volume II.
- Integration: DOH command center linked to air control systems.
- Power: Rooftop chargers tied to renewable grid supply.
- Noise Protection: Materials chosen to absorb sound and reduce vibration.
This design can be copied by other hospitals in the UAE without starting from scratch. It’s built to be expandable and cost-effective — a setup for a full national network.
Future Vision: Building a Network of Medical Vertiports
SkyCare is the first piece of a bigger map. Archer Aviation plans more vertiports across the UAE, at least three tied directly to hospitals. The goal is to connect major cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah by 2028 with electric medical air routes.
The project puts the UAE at the front of sustainable air mobility and healthcare innovation. Soon, the sound of an aircraft on a hospital roof will no longer mean a helicopter rushing through smoke — but a quiet, electric lifeline landing above the city.
