Next year, residents of Dubai can expect their meals to be delivered by drones, promising faster and more efficient service than traditional delivery methods.
During the recent Gitex Global 2023 event, attendees experienced a live demonstration of this technology. Orders placed for food and drinks were delivered within four minutes to a landing port, showcasing the potential for quick turnarounds.
The showcase was a joint venture between the local FEDS Drone-powered Solutions and the Chinese firm Meituan UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems). Rabih Bou Rached, the CEO of FEDS, expressed his belief in drones being a superior alternative to human delivery due to the lack of aerial traffic.
While a full-scale operation is foreseen within two years, a test in a residential area with low buildings will commence next year. Rached revealed in a Khaleej Times report that the drone delivery method has already been adopted in three major Chinese cities over the past two years. The Gitex Global setup was modeled on Meituan UAS’ operations in China.
To begin, Rached anticipates deploying between 10 to 20 drones. However, the potential for hundreds of drones catering to Dubai’s needs is on the horizon.
The drones are designed with six rotors and measure 1370 X 1370 X 450 mm. They can carry payloads up to 2.5 kgs—adequate for a family-sized pizza. Operating on 5G, 4G, and WiFi, these drones have a 10-km operational radius. They can also function in various weather conditions, ranging from moderate rain and temperatures between -20°C to 60°C.
To ensure safety and compliance, Rached highlighted the necessity of obtaining a BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) certification. This would permit drones to operate beyond the usual sight range of a human pilot.
Meituan UAS, which began its foray into drone delivery in 2017, has achieved significant success, making over 184,000 successful deliveries since 2021.
Furthermore, the Dubai Municipality is already preparing for this aerial revolution. Having mapped the airspace for Dubai Silicon Oasis, the entity is planning to extend this to the whole city. Wesam Lootah, CEO of Corporate Support Services Sector at the Municipality, stated, “We are working on 3D zoning of the airspace, which will expedite the integration of drones in various sectors.”