Dubai Program to Enable Drone Transportation, which aims to promote the development and adoption of cutting-edge technologies, has been launched.
The program was launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). The program in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen Dubai’s global competitiveness in adopting advanced technologies in vital sectors.
The primary objective of the Dubai Program to Enable Drone Transportation is exploring the use of drones in several sectors, including health, security, shipping and food. The program seeks to improve people’s lives by reducing carbon emissions generated by traditional shipping and transportation methods and facilitating the movement of goods and materials.
The program also aims to attract talent as well as local and foreign investments to the drone applications sector, in addition to creating new jobs and stimulating economic activity in relevant fields.
Sheikh Hamdan said: “The Dubai Program to Enable Drone Transportation will create an advanced infrastructure that enables innovators and relevant entities to test prototypes of unmanned aerial vehicles in designated areas and develop legislation that optimises their implementation. The program aims to provide new economic opportunities and consolidate Dubai’s leadership in advanced technology research and development across diverse future-oriented sectors.
“Our projects place quality of life at the top of their priorities. We will continue to develop and implement innovative ideas on the ground. We have the right environment, infrastructure, and legislation for the use of drones. We also have the laboratories, expertise and talent to translate prototypes into viable solutions.
“We have recognised the potential of drones in shaping the future early on, and started testing it in the UAE through attracting thousands of innovators in this field from 165 countries to participate in the UAE Drones for Good Award that we launched in 2014. This marked the beginning of our journey with this emerging technology, and reaffirmed our belief in the importance of leveraging future technologies for the benefit of humankind.”
DFF will oversee the implementation of the outputs of the Dubai Program to Enable Drone Transportation through Dubai Future Labs, the first applied R&D lab in the region specialising in future technology, in partnership with other entities.
A unique pilot area will be allocated in Dubai Silicon Oasis for innovators and related entities from the UAE and abroad to develop and test new drone solutions and transform them into effective services that improve people’s lives and help achieve national economic goals.
The Dubai Program to Enable Drone Transportation will significantly contribute to the development of the emirate’s transport and shipping infrastructure, which is considered one of the most advanced in the world and support the growth of multiple economic sectors. The program will also place great emphasis on upgrading the underlying digital infrastructure in cooperation with its partners.
The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between several government and private sector entities to initiate the program’s operations was witnessed by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group; Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director General Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority – Commissioner General for Infrastructure, Urban Planning and Well-Being.
The agreement was signed by Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCCA), Khalfan Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF); Ahmed Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer of The Public Transport Agency at Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Muammar Al Katheeri, Executive Vice President at Engineering and Smart City, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA); Alain Bejjani, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim; Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President at Emirates SkyCargo, and Ammar Soliman Fakeeh, Chairman of the Board of Fakeeh Care Group.
The launch and signing took place during Dubai Airshow 2021.
