DUBAI, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates,

known for its opulent cities Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has begun

mapping air corridors for air taxis and cargo drones, its civil

aviation authority said in a statement on Thursday.

The oil and gas-rich country has sought to distinguish

itself in the Middle East as a high-tech, forward-looking

society, with Dubai starting to test two-seater,

propeller-topped flying taxis made by Germany's Volocopter in

2017.

In September, U.S.-based air-taxi maker Joby Aviation ( JOBY )

said it had applied for a certificate that will allow

it to operate commercial air transport in the UAE.

"Air corridor mapping for piloted and autonomous air taxis

and drones is a crucial milestone that will enable the seamless

implementation of advanced air mobility into the UAE's

infrastructure," said civil aviation authority director Saif

Mohammed Al Suwaidi.

The UAE's civil aviation authority said the aerial corridors

and regulations were set to be defined within the next 20

months.

UAE official news agency WAM has reported that air taxis are

expected to start flying in 2026.

The civil aviation authority is developing the mapping in

partnership with the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a

global advanced technology research center based in Abu Dhabi,

and ASPIRE, a UAE research and development funding organisation,

according to the authority.