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Drones Set To Make UAE Deliveries Faster And Cheaper

Aramex and Dronamics hope to conduct pilot flights in 2024, collaborating with regulators and facilitators to create a cutting-edge logistics network.

Published

1 year ago

November 21, 2023

Nour Nasir

drones set to make uae deliveries faster and cheaper

Dronamics

As the United Arab Emirates embraces widespread logistics and transport innovation, Emirati residents may soon receive courier packages via drones.

The introduction of these cutting-edge services comes from Dronamics, the world’s first cargo drone airline, with fleet management capabilities provided by partner firm Aramex.

Dubai authorities have already showcased drone deliveries for a wide range of goods within the government-owned Silicon Oasis free zone under the watchful eye of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Now, more widespread consumer drone deliveries are being planned, with trials to start as early as 2024. The autonomous craft will be equipped with cutting-edge connectivity and navigation systems, as well as parachutes and collision-avoidance technology.

aramex and dronamics partnership

Alaa Saoudi, Aramex Chief Operating Officer, said, “The cargo hold should be able to give us 3.5 cubic meters of space, which would be good for quick turn-around operations within our express middle mile operations. But it can be utilized for customers with larger consignments in the last mile as well”.

The drones will enable same-day and long-range deliveries, offering up to 80% faster deliveries at half the cost. Meanwhile, carbon dioxide emissions for drone freight are said to be 60% less than those of traditional transport vehicles.

Also Read: Startup Helps Visitors Explore Dubai Baggage-Free

“We’re excited to collaborate with Aramex, integrating our cargo drone technology to bring the transformative benefits of rapid, cost-effective, and sustainable same-day delivery to the global stage,” said Svilen Rangelov, Co-Founder and CEO of Dronamics.

Dronamics’ remotely-piloted machine is known as Black Swan. The drone requires just 400 meters to land and take off, making it a viable solution for remote deliveries where traditional airports are either missing or underdeveloped.

If the Aramex and Dronamics collaboration proves successful, further joint deployments will be possible, with the two tech firms eying up key markets, including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Australia.

Related Topics:Aramex Drones United Arab Emirates

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Will Upcoming Changes Turn Instagram Into A TikTok Clone?

Updates are rolling out for the grid layout and Reels length, while new editing tools clearly imitate those of the rival Chinese platform.

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

Nour Nasir

Instagram

Instagram recently faced backlash for swapping its iconic square grid for rectangles, disrupting the aesthetic of thousands of carefully curated profiles. However, the Meta-owned platform isn’t stopping there, after announcing more incoming TikTok-like changes designed to give users greater control over their profiles.

“We launched a new tall grid on profiles this week and I got a lot of feedback, both positive and quite negative,” Instagram head Adam Mosseri shared in an Instagram caption on Monday. “The goal is a simpler, cleaner place that maintains, and even increases, creator control”.

Here are some of the details about further changes we can expect:

Customizable Grids: Users will soon be able to tweak how their posts appear on the grid, including adjusting image crops and reordering posts entirely.
Direct-To-Grid Posts: A new option will allow users to post directly to their profile grid without automatically adding it to their main feed.
Highlights Relocation: Instagram’s Highlights feature will move from above the grid into a dedicated tab, while also becoming part of the profile grid itself.
Longer Reels: Reels are getting a significant upgrade, with the maximum video length jumping from 90 seconds to 3 minutes.

The updates are part of Instagram’s ongoing effort to compete with TikTok, which narrowly avoided a US ban following a 75-day delay granted by President Donald Trump. With the Chinese video platform’s future remaining uncertain, Instagram seems eager to capture disillusioned users by offering features that feel increasingly similar to those of its rival.

Also Read: How To Find & Cancel Pending Instagram Requests

In fact, Instagram’s recent changes go beyond just the app’s layout: On Sunday, parent company Meta launched the standalone Edits app, a clear imitation of TikTok’s popular video-editing tool, CapCut. Additionally, Meta has been enticing creators with cash bonuses to encourage them to post their videos on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s clear Instagram is shifting its strategy to appeal to the short-form video crowd. Whether these changes will win over users or continue to spark discontent remains to be seen.