News

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.

Published

2 years ago

October 7, 2022

Nour Nasir

Aramex

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.

Also Read: Wisk Aero Unveils Four-Seat Autonomous Air Taxi

“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.

News

Mamo Completes $3.4M Funding Round To Enhance Fintech Services

The startup will use the influx of cash to expand into Saudi Arabia and across the wider GCC while improving its product offering.

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

Mamo

UAE-based fintech Mamo has announced the completion of a $3.4 million funding round that will help the startup extend its market presence and improve its product offering. Investors included 4DX Ventures, the Dubai Future District Fund and Cyfr Capital.

Mamo’s platform offers “payment collection, corporate cards and expense management” to help small and medium-sized businesses consolidate and streamline their operations. With the latest influx of capital, Mamo will further develop its comprehensive suite of services and begin testing its product lines in Saudi Arabia, further extending its footprint across the GCC.

Imad Gharazeddine, co-founder and CEO of Mamo, stated: “We’ve been in the market for a while now and are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved. The holistic and expansive nature of our product offering has helped us continue to grow sustainably. This additional funding will allow us to reach our medium-term goals even faster. The support from new and existing investors is a testament to our strong expertise and the ability to deliver on our customer promise”.

Daniel Marlo, General Partner of lead investor 4DX Ventures, added: “We have immense trust in Imad’s vision, leadership and Mamo’s innovative approach to provide a user-friendly and comprehensive financial solution for SMEs that makes financial management more accessible and efficient. We are proud to partner with them and support their mission”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

Amer Fatayer, Managing Director of Dubai Future District Fund’s investment team, also commented: “Mamo’s localized product lines serve as an infrastructure for SME payments and spend management in UAE, a segment that is underserved by the country’s current banking infrastructure. The team has taken a product-first approach to consolidating SMEs’ financial journeys and building a fintech solution deeply embedded in a business’s core operations”.

To date, Mamo has raised around $13 million in investment funding and now boasts a team of 30 people. The company’s intuitive financial services platform has allowed over 1,000 businesses to consolidate their financial operations and significantly reduce payment fees.