12:31 pm - February 16, 2026
The UAE has embarked on a significant journey into autonomous aerial logistics with the launch of its first drone delivery trial in Abu Dhabi. This pioneering step, led by aviation technology provider Lodd Autonomous in partnership with 7X, a public postal company, marks a notable advancement in the nation’s logistics sector. The pilot, held over Khalifa City, involved a drone transporting parcels using a secure winch-based delivery system from a local post office to designated drop zones, showcasing the potential for faster, more responsive, and scalable urban delivery networks.
Lodd Autonomous CEO Rashid Al Manai described autonomous drones as a transformative addition to urban delivery services, emphasizing the capability for a single operator to remotely manage multiple deliveries simultaneously. This enhanced scalability and responsiveness promise to revolutionize the logistics sector, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s broader ambitions to become a regional leader in smart and autonomous mobility solutions.
The trial was a collaborative effort involving the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, the General Civil Aviation Authority, and the Integrated Transport Centre. Humaid Saber Al Hameli, director of the Aviation Transport Division at the Integrated Transport Centre, underlined airspace security and safety as key priorities, with ongoing work to ensure regulations keep pace with the rapid evolution in unmanned aerial systems.
This initiative fits into a wider framework of drone-enabled delivery services and advanced air mobility developments underway across the emirate. For instance, Emirates Post Group, alongside AD Ports Group and drone technology provider SkyGo, has been testing comprehensive drone parcel delivery services to transport vital supplies like medical goods, fresh food, and urgent documents across Abu Dhabi. Their approach includes rolling out digital marketplace platforms to manage transactions and provide real-time tracking, aiming for a sustainable and user-friendly delivery ecosystem.
Further expanding the scope of aerial logistics, a city-wide drone network dedicated to medical deliveries is being developed by Matternet and SkyGo in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health. This network aims to transport urgent medical items such as vaccines, blood, and lab samples efficiently across the city’s health facilities. Such efforts are also designed to reduce road congestion, improve air quality, and lower the carbon footprint, showcasing the environmental benefits of drone logistics.
In addition to parcel and medical deliveries, Abu Dhabi has also demonstrated ambitions in passenger-carrying drone technologies. Recent trials during Abu Dhabi Mobility Week showcased drones capable of carrying multiple passengers over significant distances, reinforcing the emirate’s commitment to smart, scalable, and sustainable transport alternatives.
Abu Dhabi’s integrated approach to drone delivery and autonomous air mobility underscores a commitment to building future-ready infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and collaborative partnerships. These efforts aim not only to improve logistics efficiency and urban mobility but also to position Abu Dhabi as a global hub for innovation in advanced industries and smart transportation.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.tahawultech.com/industry/technology/drone-deliveries-to-see-trial-use-in-abu-dhabi/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2025/06/25/first-drone-parcel-delivery-flight-takes-off-in-abu-dhabi/ – The National reports on Abu Dhabi’s first drone parcel delivery flight, marking a significant advancement in the UAE’s logistics sector. The trial, conducted over Khalifa City, involved a drone transporting a package from a local post office to a designated drop zone using a secure winch-based delivery system. This initiative aims to reduce costs and delivery times, enhancing the efficiency of urban delivery networks. The project is a collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), aviation technology company LODD, and 7X, an investment holding group that includes Emirates Post and express delivery provider EMX. Omran Malek, head of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry at ADIO, highlighted the pilot as a powerful example of local partnerships driving long-term economic and infrastructure value for the emirate. The trial is part of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council’s strategy to develop integrated mobility solutions, with support from the General Civil Aviation Authority and the Integrated Transport Centre. Humaid Saber Al Hameli, director of the Aviation Transport Division at the Integrated Transport Centre, emphasized the importance of airspace security and the ongoing efforts to ensure regulations keep pace with developments in unmanned aerial systems. Rashid Al Manai, CEO of LODD, noted that autonomous drones introduce a transformative layer to urban delivery networks, allowing a single operator to manage multiple deliveries simultaneously, thereby enhancing scalability and responsiveness in the logistics sector. ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2025/06/25/first-drone-parcel-delivery-flight-takes-off-in-abu-dhabi/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.emiratespost.ae/media-center/news/pioneering-drone-logistics-services – Emirates Post Group, Maqta Gateway, and SkyGo have announced a collaboration to trial a comprehensive aerial drone delivery service in Abu Dhabi. The initiative aims to deploy drones to carry parcels and documents to specified Emirates Post sites across the emirate. Beginning with short-range journeys, the programme will expand to long-range tests with increased capacity to assess demand and understand the wider benefits. The objective is to provide a sustainable, user-friendly service that can carry vital medical supplies, fresh foods, and urgent documents rapidly, while providing real-time tracking. Maqta Gateway will deploy its integrated digital marketplace, Margo Hub, to facilitate online transactions between customers and Emirates Post Group, which in turn will manage the service and provide tracking and status updates, while SkyGo provides the drone solutions. ([emiratespost.ae](https://www.emiratespost.ae/media-center/news/pioneering-drone-logistics-services?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.adportsgroup.com/en/news-and-media/2022/10/13/pioneering-drone-logistics-services-set-to-fly-high-in-abu-dhabi – AD Ports Group’s digital arm, Maqta Gateway, Emirates Post Group, and SkyGo have announced a collaboration to trial a comprehensive aerial drone delivery service in Abu Dhabi. The initiative aims to deploy drones to carry parcels and documents to specified Emirates Post sites across the emirate. Beginning with short-range journeys, the programme will expand to long-range tests with increased capacity to assess demand and understand the wider benefits. The objective is to provide a sustainable, user-friendly service that can carry vital medical supplies, fresh foods, and urgent documents rapidly, while providing real-time tracking. Maqta Gateway will deploy its integrated digital marketplace, Margo Hub, to facilitate online transactions between customers and Emirates Post Group, which in turn will manage the service and provide tracking and status updates, while SkyGo provides the drone solutions. ([adportsgroup.com](https://www.adportsgroup.com/en/news-and-media/2022/10/13/pioneering-drone-logistics-services-set-to-fly-high-in-abu-dhabi?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.prnewswire.com/ae/news-releases/matternet-and-skygo-partner-with-abu-dhabi-doh-for-worlds-first-city-wide-medical-drone-network-301382865.html – Matternet and SkyGo have partnered with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) to establish a city-wide drone delivery network for the rapid transport of medical goods in Abu Dhabi. The network aims to significantly increase the connectivity of the emirate’s health ecosystem and position it as a global leader in advanced air mobility. The service will transport urgent, high-value goods such as COVID-19 vaccines, blood, and lab samples across Abu Dhabi’s health system. The companies plan to install 40 droneports in Abu Dhabi by the end of the first year of operation. This initiative is expected to reduce the number of delivery vehicles on Abu Dhabi’s roads, alleviating congestion, improving air quality, and lowering the city’s carbon footprint. ([prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/ae/news-releases/matternet-and-skygo-partner-with-abu-dhabi-doh-for-worlds-first-city-wide-medical-drone-network-301382865.html?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/05/09/passenger-carrying-drone-flights-held-in-abu-dhabi/ – The National reports on passenger-carrying drone flights held in Abu Dhabi during the inaugural Abu Dhabi Mobility Week. The trials involved a five-seater drone capable of travelling more than 25km with a payload of up to 350kg, and a small-sized drone capable of carrying two passengers for up to 35km. These trials represent a significant addition to Abu Dhabi’s track record of achievements in the smart and sustainable mobility sector, as the emirate continues to position itself as a global hub for transportation solutions and smart and autonomous vehicles. ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2024/05/09/passenger-carrying-drone-flights-held-in-abu-dhabi/?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.zawya.com/en/business/technology-and-telecom/lodd-7x-conduct-first-parcel-delivery-trial-by-drone-in-abu-dhabi-hce7pm7h – Zawya reports on the first pilot flight for autonomous drone parcel deliveries in Abu Dhabi, conducted by aviation technology firm LODD and 7X, an investment holding group in trade, transport, and logistics. The trial, conducted in Khalifa City, demonstrated the viability of autonomous aerial parcel delivery, with a drone transporting a simulated package from a local post office to a designated drop zone using a secure winch-based delivery system. The initiative is part of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council’s strategy, supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), to develop and adopt smart and integrated mobility solutions in the emirate. The project aims to localise production, develop future-ready infrastructure, and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for innovation and advanced industries. ([zawya.com](https://www.zawya.com/en/business/technology-and-telecom/lodd-7x-conduct-first-parcel-delivery-trial-by-drone-in-abu-dhabi-hce7pm7h?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative was first published on June 25, 2025, aligning with other reports from the same date. The content appears original, with no evidence of prior publication. The inclusion of updated data, such as the specific date and details of the trial, justifies a higher freshness score. However, the presence of similar reports from other reputable outlets on the same date suggests a coordinated release, possibly from a press release. This is common in such announcements and typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Lodd Autonomous CEO Rashid Al Manai and Humaid Saber Al Hameli, director of the Aviation Transport Division at the Integrated Transport Centre, are present. These quotes appear to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. The wording is consistent across sources, indicating authenticity.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from TahawulTech.com, a technology-focused news outlet. While it is a known platform, it is not as widely recognised as major international news organisations. The report cites reputable entities such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and the Integrated Transport Centre, lending credibility to the information. However, the reliance on a single source for the primary information introduces some uncertainty.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about the drone delivery trial in Abu Dhabi are plausible and align with the UAE’s ongoing efforts in smart and autonomous mobility. The narrative includes specific details about the trial, such as the location (Khalifa City) and the involvement of entities like Lodd Autonomous and 7X. These details are consistent with other reports from reputable outlets. The language and tone are appropriate for the subject matter, and there are no signs of excessive or off-topic detail.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents original and timely information about the drone delivery trial in Abu Dhabi, supported by direct quotes and consistent with other reputable reports. While sourced from a less widely recognised outlet, the content’s credibility is bolstered by references to established entities and the plausibility of the claims. The freshness score is high, indicating recent and relevant information.
