As Gulf cities strive to build smarter and more sustainable urban environments, drone delivery is rapidly evolving from a futuristic concept to an operational reality, particularly in the UAE. With Dubai positioning itself as a global testbed for low-altitude mobility, industry leaders are using the city as a launchpad to scale next-generation logistics. That momentum was evident at the Dubai Airshow 2025, where Keeta Drone outlined how autonomous aerial delivery is poised to transform the region’s economic and environmental future.

Drone delivery will play a vital role in shaping the Middle East’s sustainable urban development, according to Dr. Yinian Mao, Vice President of Meituan and President of Keeta Drone, who spoke at the event.

In his keynote titled “From Policy to Progress: Building the Skyways for Urban Logistics,” Dr. Mao described Dubai as a “singularity” in the global low-altitude economy, driven by progressive policies and technological innovation.

Keeta Drone secured Dubai’s first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) commercial drone delivery licence in late 2024 and has since launched several delivery routes around the Dubai Silicon Oasis district. The company’s fourth-generation autonomous drones and automated ground support units are enabling fast, contactless and environmentally friendly delivery services that link residential and commercial zones.

In October 2025, Keeta expanded its operations with a new route in Nad Al Sheba under DCAA’s regulatory framework and with the support of Dubai Silicon Oasis. The service currently delivers food orders from restaurants and cafés at Nad Al Sheba Avenue Mall, landing at the Nad Al Sheba Grand Mosque.

Dr. Mao said that Dubai’s innovation-friendly policies were a decisive factor in choosing it as Keeta Drone’s first overseas base. “We believe a progressive policy is the first step for drone delivery to take off,” he said. “And once we can get in the air, we can discover more business opportunities.”

He emphasised how drone logistics aligns with regional sustainability goals. Keeta has tailored its systems for Dubai’s desert climate, engineering drones to perform in sandy, windy conditions and temperatures above 50°C. Its AI simulation platform, which can run millions of training cycles, helps ensure safety while reducing the need for real-world testing.