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Aramex Has Successfully Tested Drone Deliveries In Oman
The pilot is part of Aramex’s “Future Delivery Program”, and forms part of the company’s innovation agenda and sustainability strategy.
Aramex is a leading transport and logistics organization, and this week, the company successfully finished the pilot phase of its drone-based “Future Delivery Program” in Muscat, Oman.
UVL Robotics, a company from the United States, partnered with the logistics firm to bring its class-leading AI and drone solutions to the project, which will eventually also include autonomous vehicles. The Future Delivery Program is about creating cost-based savings and reducing environmental impact by lowering carbon emissions and traffic congestion during the last-mile section of deliveries.
Aramex is already embarking on a full-scale transition to electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with drone and autonomous vehicle-based deliveries complementing the emission-free fleet.
“We believe the next generation of last-mile solutions, including drones and autonomous vehicles, will be a game-changer as it ensures efficient delivery while being eco-friendly […] We have proven that these automated modes of delivery will enable us to further enhance the speed, accessibility, and reliability of package deliveries, especially to remote areas with hard-to-reach terrain,” says Alaa Saoudi, COO, Express at Aramex.
Eventually, Aramex will expand its autonomous delivery program across the Middle East and test the technology in other key markets. The company aims to significantly shorten delivery times and boost customer satisfaction while doing as much as possible to aid with climate action as we approach 2030 sustainability goals.
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“We strongly believe that last-mile delivery by drone is an important part of future logistics and one of the key goals in our business sustainability strategy. Drones produce 26 times less CO2 emissions than cars, which positively impacts the region’s ecology,” says Moosa Al Balushi, Regional Director for UVL in the MENA Region.
Aramex isn’t new to the use of modern technology. The firm has been testing electric vehicles and adopting them into parts of its service since 2017, with operations in Jordan using EVs and testing going on across Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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