KNETCO and Skyports Partner to Build AAM Infrastructure in Kuwait

Kuwait Network Electronic Technology Co. (KNETCO) and Skyports Infrastructure signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 16, 2026, to develop the foundational infrastructure for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations in Kuwait.

Announced via a company press release, the agreement establishes Skyports as KNETCO’s primary partner for vertiport development, joint market exploration, and stakeholder engagement within the country. The partnership is designed to combine KNETCO’s established telecommunications and critical infrastructure capabilities with Skyports’ specialized expertise in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) ground facilities.

Building Kuwait’s AAM ecosystem

The collaboration represents an initial step toward establishing a commercial AAM network in the Gulf state. KNETCO leadership emphasized that the successful deployment of air taxi services relies heavily on ground-level preparation, digital integration, and regulatory alignment.

“People often look at Advanced Air Mobility and see the aircraft. I see the infrastructure behind it,” said Khaled Samy Hall, CEO of KNETCO. “The vertiports, connectivity, digital platforms, operations, regulations, investors, and partnerships must all come together before a new mobility ecosystem can truly grow.”

Riham Al-Ghanim, Chairwoman of KNETCO, noted that the company is focused on long-term economic development and recognizes the necessity of close collaboration with government stakeholders to mature the sector. She described the Partnerships as a preparation for the industries that will shape the future economy.

Regional expansion for Skyports

For UK-based Skyports, the Kuwaiti MoU expands an already significant footprint in the Middle East. The company is currently constructing a vertiport network in Dubai, where its core vertiport facility, designated VDX, has already been completed ahead of planned commercial operations.

Daniel O’Neill, Middle-East General Manager for Skyports Infrastructure, stated that Kuwait possesses the strategic location and vision to become a key AAM market.

“With our vertiport network in Dubai well under construction, and with our core vertiport VDX already completed, we look forward to applying our industry leading skills and knowledge to Kuwait’s AAM future,” O’Neill said.

The agreement also drew support from the British Embassy in Kuwait. In a statement included in the release, the embassy highlighted the partnership as a model of bilateral cooperation merging British aviation expertise with Kuwaiti infrastructure capability.

AirPro News analysis

The MoU between KNETCO and Skyports highlights a maturing phase in the Advanced Air Mobility sector where the focus is shifting from aircraft certification to the physical realities of ground operations. We observe that while eVTOL manufacturers frequently dominate industry headlines, the absence of certified, grid-connected vertiports remains a primary bottleneck to commercial service entry.

By securing partnerships in Kuwait following its established projects in Dubai, Skyports is effectively standardizing its infrastructure model across the Middle East. Partnering with a local telecommunications and infrastructure firm like KNETCO is a calculated approach. AAM networks require robust digital integration, secure data links, and local regulatory navigation just as much as they require concrete landing pads.

Sources: Skyports Infrastructure