Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption WATCH: Sky taxi lifts off in Dubai

A drone that can carry people will begin "regular operations" in Dubai from July, the head of the city's Roads and Transportation Agency has announced at the World Government Summit.

The Chinese model eHang 184 has already had test flights, said Matt al-Tayer.

The drone can carry one passenger weighing up to 100 kg (220 pounds) and has a 30 minute flight time.

The passenger uses a touch screen to select a destination. There are no other controls inside the craft.

It is "auto-piloted" by a command centre, according to a video released by the government agency.

It has reported speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 kilometres per hour) and can fly 31 miles (50km) on a single battery charge.

"This is not only a model," Mr al-Tayer, according to a report by the Associated Press.

"We have actually experimented with this vehicle flying in Dubai's skies."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The drone was first unveiled at the CES tech fair in 2016.

The device was also approved for testing in Nevada in June 2016.

'Resilient to failure'

Dr Steve Wright, senior lecturer in avionics and aircraft systems at the University of the West of England, told the BBC that safety would have to be paramount.

"The way these systems work, making them work normally is easy. The tricky bit is making systems that are resilient to failure," he said.

"I would like to see the drone flying for at least 1000 hours before I saw a human in it."

Dr Wright added that he would not be volunteering for an early flight.

"I'd have to be taken on board kicking and screaming."

Last month Israeli firm Urban Aeronautics announced that its Cormorant passenger drone - designed for military use - could be in use by 2020.

The $14m (£11m) drone can carry 500kg (1,100lb) at 185km/h (115mph).</s>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Up, up and away: Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone regularly buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July.

Mattar al-Tayer, the head of Dubai's Roads & Transportation Agency, made the announcement on Monday at the World Government Summit.

The drone - a Chinese-made EHang 184 - is an egg-shaped craft with four legs sticking out, each with two small propellers.

A model of EHang 184 and the next generation of Dubai Drone Taxi is seen during the seconde day of the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July. Mattar al-Tayer, the head of Dubai's Roads & Transportation Agency, made the surprise announcement Monday at the World Government Summit. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

The rider punches in a destination on a touch screen in front of the passenger seat, then the drone would fly there automatically.

The drone, which has a half-hour flight time, will be monitored remotely by a control room on the ground.

EHang did not respond to a request for comment. In May, authorities in Nevada announced they would partner with EHang to test the 184.

A model of EHang 184 and the next generation of Dubai Drone Taxi is seen during the seconde day of the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July. Mattar al-Tayer, the head of Dubai's Roads & Transportation Agency, made the surprise announcement Monday at the World Government Summit. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)</s>A model of EHang 184 and the next generation of Dubai Drone Taxi is seen during the seconde day of the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July.

Start the conversation, or Read more at News Times.</s>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Up, up and away: Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone regularly buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July.

Mattar al-Tayer, the head of Dubai’s Roads & Transportation Agency, made the announcement on Monday at the World Government Summit.

The drone – a Chinese-made EHang 184 – is an egg-shaped craft with four legs sticking out, each with two small propellers.

The rider punches in a destination on a touch screen in front of the passenger seat, then the drone would fly there automatically.

The drone, which has a half-hour flight time, will be monitored remotely by a control room on the ground.

EHang did not respond to a request for comment. In May, authorities in Nevada announced they would partner with EHang to test the 184.</s>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Up, up and away: Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone regularly buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July.

The arrival of the Chinese-made EHang 184 — which already has had its flying debut over Dubai’s sail-shaped Burj al-Arab skyscraper hotel — comes as the Emirati city also has partnered with other cutting-edge technology companies, including Hyperloop One.

The question is whether the egg-shaped, four-legged craft will really take off as a transportation alternative in this car-clogged city already home to the world’s longest driverless metro line.

Mattar al-Tayer, the head of Dubai’s Roads & Transportation Agency, announced plans to have the craft regularly flying at the World Government Summit. Before his remarks on Monday, most treated the four-legged, eight-propeller craft as just another curiosity at an event that views itself as a desert Davos.

“This is not only a model,” al-Tayer said. “We have actually experimented with this vehicle flying in Dubai’s skies.”

The craft can carry a passenger weighing up to 220 pounds and a small suitcase. After buckling into its race-car-style seat, the craft’s sole passenger selects a destination on a touch-screen pad in front of the seat and the drone flies there automatically.

The drone, which has a battery allowing for a half-hour flight time and a range of up to 31 miles, will be monitored remotely by a control room on the ground. It has a top speed of 100 mph, but authorities say it will be operated typically at 62 mph.

Al-Tayer said the drone would begin regular operations in July. He did not elaborate.

The Road and Transportation Agency later issued a statement saying the drone had been examined by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and was controlled through 4G mobile internet. The agency did not immediately respond to further questions from The Associated Press.

The United Arab Emirates already requires drone hobbyists to register their aircraft. However, drone intrusions at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, has seen it shut down for hours at a time in recent months.

EHang did not respond to a request for comment. In May, authorities in Nevada announced they would partner with EHang to test the 184 to possibly be cleared by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

The drone may be a techno curiosity for now but Dubai — the commercial capital of the oil-rich UAE and home to the long-haul carrier Emirates — has bold visions for the future and the 184 fits right into its plans.

Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced in April he wanted 25 percent of all passenger trips in the city to be done by driverless vehicles in 2030. To that end, Dubai already has had the box-shaped driverless EZ10, built by France’s EasyMile, cruise nearby the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

In October, Dubai signed a deal with Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One to study the potential for building a hyperloop line between it and Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital.

A hyperloop has levitating pods powered by electricity and magnetism that hurtle through low-friction pipes at a top speed of 1,220 kph (760 mph). Elon Musk, the co-founder of Tesla who appeared on Monday at the Dubai conference, first proposed the idea of a hyperloop in 2013.

Musk, who took no questions from reporters on Monday, later launched his Tesla car brand in Dubai at an event organizers said was not open to international media. Musk has come under criticism for serving on a business council advising U.S. President Donald Trump.</s>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Up, up and away: Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone regularly buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July.

The arrival of the Chinese-made EHang 184 — which already has had its flying debut over Dubai's iconic, sail-shaped Burj al-Arab skyscraper hotel — comes as the Emirati city also has partnered with other cutting-edge technology companies, including Hyperloop One.

The question is whether the egg-shaped, four-legged craft will really take off as a transportation alternative in this car-clogged city already home to the world's longest driverless metro line.

Mattar al-Tayer, the head of Dubai's Roads & Transportation Agency, announced plans to have the craft regularly flying at the World Government Summit. Before his remarks on Monday, most treated the four-legged, eight-propeller craft as just another curiosity at an event that views itself as a desert Davos.

"This is not only a model," al-Tayer said. "We have actually experimented with this vehicle flying in Dubai's skies."

The craft can carry a passenger weighing up to 100 kilograms and a small suitcase. After buckling into its race-car-style seat, the craft's sole passenger selects a destination on a touch-screen pad in front of the seat and the drone flies there automatically.

The drone, which has a battery allowing for a half-hour flight time and a range of up to 50 kilometers, will be monitored remotely by a control room on the ground. It has a top speed of 160 kph, but authorities say it will be operated typically at 100 kph.

Al-Tayer said the drone would begin regular operations in July. He did not elaborate.

The Road and Transportation Agency later issued a statement saying the drone had been examined by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and was controlled through 4G mobile internet. The agency did not immediately respond to further questions from The Associated Press.

The United Arab Emirates already requires drone hobbyists to register their aircraft. However, drone intrusions at Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, has seen it shut down for hours at a time in recent months.

EHang did not respond to a request for comment. In May, authorities in Nevada announced they would partner with EHang to test the 184 to possibly be cleared by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.</s>Dubai plans to have a passenger drone ready and flying by the summer.

Mattar al-Tayer, head of Dubai's Roads & Transportation Agency, announced the aim at the World Government Summit , the New York Times reports . He said the drone would begin regular operations in July.

The drone can carry a single passenger weighing up to 220 pounds plus a small suitcase. The chosen model is a EHange 184, a Chinese made drone, which has already flown in Dubai's skies.

The Road and Transportation Agency later said the craft was controlled through 4G mobile internet.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the emirate's leader, had previously said that by 2030 he wanted a quarter of all passenger trips in Dubai to be done by driverless vehicles.</s>Dubai has revealed a drone that will be able to carry people, it will be in “regular operations” in Dubai from July.

The head of the city’s Roads and Transportation Agency announced the news at the World Government Summit.

The Chinese model named eHang 184 has already had test flights.

The drone is able to carry one passenger, weighing up to 100 kg (220 pounds). It also currently has a 30-minute flight time.

There is only one set of controls within the craft, the passenger simply touches a screen to select their destination.

According to a video released by the government agency, it is “auto-piloted” by a command centre.

The drone has reported speeds of up to 100mph (160 kilometres per hour) and can fly 31 miles (50km) on a single charge.

The device was also approved for testing in Nevada in June 2016.</s>A drone that can carry people will kick off operations in Dubai from July, the head of the city’s Roads and Transportation Agency has announced at the World Government Summit.

The Chinese model eHang 184 has already had test flights, said Matt al-Tayer. The drone can carry one passenger weighing up to 100 kg (220 pounds) and has a 30 minute flight time.

The passenger uses a touch scren to select a destination. There are no other controls inside the craft.

It is “auto-piloted” by a command centre, according to a video released by the government agency.

It has reported speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 kilometres per hour) and can fly 31 miles (50km) on a single battery charge.

“This is not only a model,” Mr al-Tayer, according to a report by the Associated Press. “We have actually experimented with this vehicle flying in Dubai’s skies.”

Dr Steve Wright, senior lecturer in avionics and aircraft systems at the University of the West of England, told the BBC that safety would have to be paramount.

The device was also approved for testing in Nevada in June 2016.</s>Dubai’s Road and Transport Agency said the EHang 184 passenger drone will begin operations in July, Popular Mechanics reported.

The drone features four landing legs and eight propellers, allowing it to carry a single passenger weighing a maximum of 100kg.

The EHang 184 has a flight time of 30 minutes and a range of up to 50km. It is controlled remotely from a facility on the ground.

Speaking at the World Government Summit, Dubai Road and Transport head Mattar al-Tayer said the country had conducted experiments with the EHang 184 drone.

“This is not only a model, we have actually experimented with this vehicle flying in Dubai’s skies,” he said.

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The United Arab Emirates announces at the World Government Summit that its planned passenger drone will begin operations in July.