Seaglider routes connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai are expected to take just 30 minutes and cost each passenger Dh200 ($54), developers have said.
Made by US firm Regent Defence, the Viceroy Seaglider can carry up to 12 passengers and fly at a maximum 290kph.
It is on display at the Dubai Airshow and offered a glimpse of the rapidly expanding mobility services planned for the UAE.
As well as running passenger services around the world, recent demonstrations in the US showed the Seaglider’s capacity to carry out high-speed military missions and medical rescues.
With boats limited by speed and helicopters constrained by stability and availability, Seaglider vessels can fill a gap, its designers say.
The aircraft has a 1,500kg payload and can cover about 2,600 in its hybrid form before refuelling is required.
The swanky interior of Regent's Viceroy seaglider that can carry up to 12 passengers. Photo: Regent
Billy Thalheimer, Regent co-founder and chief executive, told ARN news: "It operates in three modes: floating on the hull, rising above the water’s surface on hydrofoils and flying about 10 metres off the surface of the water.
“Regent has a massive global backlog for these Seagliders as they are low-emission, low-cost and high-speed modes of transport for coastlines all over the world." He added that "with so many customers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Europe" the plan was to build a production plant in the UAE, with Regen
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