Sheikh Hamdan unveils drone delivery service in Dubai

Project expected to cover one third of Dubai by the year 2030

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, launched a drone delivery service in the emirate on Tuesday.

Keeta Drone, a subsidiary of Chinese technology and retail company Meituan, has been awarded a licence by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) to deliver food and medicine across Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) during the first phase of the project. Sheikh Hamdan became the first person to make an order through the platform from the Rochester Institute of Technology-Dubai, one of the landing points within DSO’s drone delivery network.

“We continue to support projects that drive a diversified, flexible digital economy by leveraging advanced technology in Dubai and empowering the aviation and air transport sectors,” said Sheikh Hamdan, according to Dubai Government Media Office.

“Our strategy places a high priority on strengthening public-private partnerships to catalyse research and development, sustainable growth, and smart mobility. This aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position Dubai among the world’s top three urban economies.”

The drones have a height ceiling of 100 metres and a range of 3km, with a top speed of 22 metres per second. “The future of robotic technologies and self-driving systems for retail services, and knowledge-based economic applications, innovation, digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence have all become a reality in Dubai,” said Sheikh Hamdan.

“Today, we have reached a significant milestone with operational readiness to commence drone delivery operations. Through strong collaboration between the public and private sectors, we aim to further raise the quality of services, enhance quality of life, and accelerate economic growth.”

Keeta Drone delivers an order after being launched in Dubai's Silicon Oasis on Tuesday. Pawan Singh / The National

The plan is to eventually cover all of the emirate, Mohammed Abdulla Lengawi, director general of the DCAA, told The National. “Drone delivery will reach 33 per cent of Dubai by 2030, positioning the emirate as a pioneer in smart mobility,” he said. “We are committed to making a vital contribution to enhancing Dubai’s position as one of the cities best prepared for the future and a global hub for innovation in the aviation sector.”

The drone is known as an M-Drone Gen 3, a six-rotor vehicle with a maximum load capacity of 2.3kg. Speaking to The National at a press conference on Tuesday, Keeta Drone's president Dr Yinian Mao explained that the UAE was the perfect location for such a service.

“Dubai’s high demand for delivery services and the operational challenges posed by its extreme weather underscore the potential for drone delivery to enhance efficiency and reliability,” he said.

One of the organisations who have partnered with the project is Fakeeh University Hospital in Dubai, whose chief executive spoke about how a drone service could play a big role in the future of medical care.

“Drones provide a reliable and timely solution for critical needs such as plasma delivery, where every second counts,” said Mohaymen Abdelghany. “We look forward to scaling this initiative across more medical applications.”