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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.
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.
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.
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“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.
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Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform
Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.
Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.
The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.
Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.
Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.
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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.
“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.
Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.
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