Residents in the United Arab Emirates will soon have the unprecedented opportunity to own and operate a personal modular flying car capable of navigating both city streets and open skies. Developed by Aridge, a brand under Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG, the innovative vehicle is set to become one of the first commercially available flying cars built specifically for individual consumer ownership rather than commercial public ride-sharing fleets.
Known as the "Land Aircraft Carrier," the system features an ingenious two-part design cantered around a six-wheeled, all-wheel-drive electric ground vehicle. Designed with futuristic truck-like styling, the road module functions as an everyday car that can be easily driven through regular traffic and parked in a standard residential garage. Housed discreetly inside its rear cargo bay is a separate two-seater electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft ready for low-altitude flight.
At the touch of a button, the rear module opens and automatically deploys the aerial craft, enabling drivers to seamlessly transition from driving on tarmac to flying short distances. Unlike conventional airplanes, the eVTOL requires no runway, utilizing vertical lift technology that allows users to leave the ground vehicle parked securely on the ground while taking to the skies.
To lay the groundwork for safe integration, the government of Ras Al Khaimah entered into an agreement with Aridge to test the privately owned flying cars within an official regulatory sandbox. Despite its road-and-sky versatility, owners will not be permitted to take off from congested public highways or random streets; all flights will be strictly confined to designated low-altitude corridors and authorized launch zones established by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Global interest in the cutting-edge vehicle has already surged, with roughly 7,000 pre-orders logged worldwide, including approximately 600 orders directly from buyers across the GCC. While demand across the region continues to climb, final commercial customer handovers and road-to-sky rollouts in the UAE remain subject to complete civil aviation certification and regulatory approvals.