Dubai has conducted its first test of a drone taxi service that it hopes will become a viable transportation system in the city.
The two-seater, 18-rotor unmanned vehicle took off for a five-minute flight above a strip of sand on the Gulf coast.
The flight was watched by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.
Dubai has big ambitions for becoming a smart city, with drones and robots central to its plans.
The drone was designed by German firm Volocopter and the firm said it hopes to have the taxis up and running within five years.
"Implementation would see you using your smartphone, having an app, and ordering a Volocopter to the next Voloport near you," said chief executive Florian Reuter.
"The Volocopter would come and autonomously pick you up and take you to your destination.
