Dubai is set to introduce autonomous drones for last-mile delivery, making it faster and more convenient for consumers.
This initiative, showcased at Gitex Global 2023, was demonstrated by FEDS Drone-powered Solutions (FEDS) based in Dubai and Chinese company Meituan UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems).
The founder of FEDS, Rabih Bou Rached, highlighted that drone delivery is quicker than traditional methods due to the absence of traffic in the air. The full-scale operation is expected to roll out in the next two years, with a pilot test area in a residential community with low-rise buildings operational by next year.
The drones can carry up to 2.5kgs of payload and have a 10-km radius for travel. Dubai Municipality is actively working on airspace mapping to plan routes and landing locations for drones, which is seen as a significant step toward widespread drone adoption.
