News

Dubai Hospital Delivery Drone Completes Successful First Trial

The unmanned aerial vehicle allows the hospital to rapidly deliver medications to patients, saving lives in emergencies.

Published

3 years ago

May 31, 2023

Nour Nasir

dubai hospital delivery drone completes successful first trial

Fakheeh University Hospital

Fakheeh University Hospital in Dubai has made history by flying a delivery of medicine to a patient’s house in Cedre Villas (Dubai Silicon Oasis) using a small, unmanned drone.

The groundbreaking achievement followed a series of trials in collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA).

The introduction of drone deliveries represents a significant shift in healthcare accessibility. The small aerial craft could also prove life-saving in emergency situations, as they can quickly zip to their destination without having to worry about traffic jams or search for helicopter-sized landing spaces.

Fakeeh University Hospital CEO, Dr Fatih Mehmet Gul, was rightfully proud of the technological achievement: “Since our establishment, we have consistently embraced technological advancements to provide innovative services. However, this initiative marks a substantial leap forward in enhancing healthcare accessibility and achieving complete digitalization”.

Drone use also significantly reduces the hospital’s carbon footprint compared to traditional delivery methods — a factor that is especially important to the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority and the 2040 Urban Master Plan.

Also Read: Saudi Aviation Sector Embraces Tech To Meet Vision 2030 Goals

Director-general of Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dr Juma Al Matrooshi, said, “In line with our role within the Dubai Programme to Enable Drone Transportation, we are committed to empowering entities from the UAE and abroad to develop and test new drone solutions that boost efficiency and convenience”.

In 2021, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, announced a program that would enable the use of drones in multiple sectors, including shipping, food logistics, health, and security, with the aim of boosting global competitiveness and innovation within the Emirate.

News

Saudi Digital Payments Reach 80% As Cash Use Shrinks

Visa data shows cards and mobile wallets dominate spending, with smartphones now driving a growing share of daily transactions.

Published

1 day ago

January 23, 2026

Nour Nasir

saudi digital payments reach 80% as cash use shrinks

Digital payments now account for 80% of all transactions in Saudi Arabia, according to Visa’s latest Where Cash Hides report, another marker of how quickly the Kingdom is moving away from cash.

The share is up four percentage points from a year ago. Around 67% of consumers are now largely non-cash users, paying mainly with cards or mobile wallets. Smartphones are taking a bigger role, with mobile payments making up 16% of transactions.

visa where cash hides saudi arabia 2026

Cash is retreating in routine spending. Eating out dropped 9%. Bill payments fell 8%, as shoppers opt for faster checkouts and app-based payments.

“The data shows a steady move toward digital payments in Saudi Arabia. Such progress is possible only because banks, fintechs, merchants, and technology partners are moving together in the same direction, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” said Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.

Also Read: UAE Users Sleep Less, But More Efficiently, ŌURA Data Reveals

Despite the recent findings, it’s important to note that cash hasn’t yet disappeared. It still shows up for tips (39%), peer-to-peer transfers (28%) and rent (14%).

Visa points to security features such as tokenization, along with rewards and cashback, as factors nudging more spending onto cards and phones — a shift that tracks with Saudi Arabia’s wider Vision 2030 push to digitize commerce.