Keeta Drone secures UAE’s first BVLOS licence
Chinese firm Meituan launches limited drone deliveries within Dubai Silicon Oasis
#UAE #DroneDelivery - Keeta Drone, a subsidiary of Chinese tech giant Meituan, has secured the UAE’s first commercial licence for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone deliveries from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). Launching in Dubai Silicon Oasis, the service includes four operational routes delivering food and medical supplies, marking a first step in Keeta Drone’s UAE expansion: the company’s first venture outside Greater China. DCAA expects drone delivery services to reach 33 per cent of Dubai by 2030, positioning the emirate as a pioneer in smart mobility.
SO WHAT? - There have been ongoing discussions and planning exercises between Dubai’s government departments over the past five years towards the introduction of drone delivery services in the emirate. The Government of Dubai issued its first dedicated drone law in 2020 (Law No. 04 of 2020), to pave the way for plans for drone air traffic control (ATC) system and detailed regulations. In 2021, The Dubai Programme to Enable Drone Transportation was launched, designating Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) as the official drone services testing area. However, the regulation and management of BVLOS drone flights has been a persistent sticking point for the introduction of drone delivery services. Therefore, although Keeta’s initial services maybe limited in scope, the awarding of the UAE’s first BVLOS licence is a significant milestone for Dubai’s drone sector.
Here are some key points of the announcement:
Drone services company Keeta Drone has secured the UAE’s first commercial licence for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone deliveries from Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), and announced a limited drone delivery service serving four locations in Dubai Silicon Oasis. Owned by technology company Meituan, Keeta is now the first Chinese drone logistics operator to receive such a certification outside China.
The Crown Prince of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum officially launched the innovative project at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), highlighting Dubai's leadership in smart mobility and logistics. The new service is part of Dubai’s BVLOS drone delivery programme, an initiative by DCAA and Dubai Future Foundation.
Keeta’s drone delivery routes will serve Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Dubai, Dubai Digital Park, and surrounding areas for food and medical deliveries.
Keeta Drone’s M-Drone Gen 3, a six-rotor drone has a 2.3kg payload capacity, integrating intelligent dispatch systems for safe and efficient urban delivery.
Over 400,000 drone deliveries have been completed by Keeta Drone in China, spanning major cities like Beijing and Shenzhen.
According to the Chinese company, environmental benefits of drone delivery include 84% lower emissions per package compared to diesel trucks, supporting Dubai’s sustainability goals.
The new initiative also includes a collaboration with Fakeeh University Hospital in Dubai Silicon Oasis for critical medical deliveries, such as plasma transport.
Dubai’s ambitious goals for smart mobility include drone delivery coverage of 33 per cent of Dubai city by 2030..
ZOOM OUT - Although governments across the Middle East have announced future plans for drone delivery services over the past five years, significant trials have been few and far between and actual services almost non-existent. The first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone delivery trials in the region took place in the Sultanate of Oman, beginning January 2022. The drone delivery trials resulted in a long-running service being deployed by Aramex, serving the residents of the luxury residential development Muscat Bay, south of Muscat city. The Muscat Bay service has been the only commercial BVLOS drone delivery service running in the region, until this week’s announcement by the Dubai government and Keeta.
Read more about drone delivery in the GCC:
Aramex's drone debut (Middle East AI News)
Muscat drone delivery trials (Middle East AI News)
Dubai launches new drone initiative (Middle East AI News)