News

Meet Dubai’s Groundbreaking Smart Robot Delivery Assistant

Cedre Valley in Dubai’s Silicon Oasis will host a three-month trial of the delivery robots, aiming to enhance logistics efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Published

2 years ago

June 27, 2024

Nour Nasir

meet dubai's groundbreaking smart robot delivery assistant

Emirates News Agency

A groundbreaking delivery robot is now undergoing a three-month trial in Dubai’s Cedre Villas community at the Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO). The innovative robot, developed in a partnership between logistics giant Aramex and the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), aims to revolutionize last-mile urban delivery services by enhancing efficiency and minimizing carbon emissions.

The trial in the Cedre Villas community will see the robot autonomously manage the delivery of over 1,000 packages. This upgraded version, equipped with multiple compartments designed for different parcel sizes, promises to boost delivery capacity and operational versatility compared to its single-cabin predecessors.

dubai delivery robot assistant

This cutting-edge technology is a part of Dubai’s ambitious strategy to integrate autonomous systems into its transportation network, with a goal of converting 25% of its transportation to autonomous mode by 2030. This initiative aligns with the wider Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which emphasizes sustainable urban growth and smart mobility solutions.

To ensure safety and security during the pilot phase, recipients of packages from Aramex will receive secure pin codes to access their deliveries. Additionally, robot operations will be continuously monitored by a mobile outlet at the Cedre Shopping Centre, which will also manage the loading and unloading of packages.

Muammar Khaled Al Katheeri, Chief Officer of Engineering and Sustainability at DIEZ, highlighted the importance of integrating carbon-neutral delivery robots into Dubai’s Smart City Strategy, reinforcing the city’s commitment to advancing green technology for urban development.

Also Read: NVIDIA Teams With Ooredoo For Large-Scale Middle East Launch

Meanwhile, Tarek Abuyaghi, General Manager of Aramex, voiced his enthusiasm for the environmental benefits and enhanced urban living experience brought about by the initiative. The collaboration with DIEZ reflects a shared dedication to developing future-oriented delivery solutions in Dubai.

The pilot’s success will be assessed based on key metrics such as safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Depending on the results, there may be an expansion of this technology to other economic zones, including the Dubai Airport Freezone and Dubai CommerCity.

News

NEOPAY Wants To Follow Merchants Across Channels And Borders

A controlling 65% stake in noon payments would give NEOPAY access to marketplace sellers, online merchants and the payment flows they generate.

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2026

Nour Nasir

neopay wants to follow merchants across channels and borders

It’s been a long time since checkouts were single defined places. A merchant might take payments at a physical register, on its own website and through an online marketplace, sometimes in more than one country. NEOPAY wants to follow those transactions wherever they happen.

The UAE payments company has entered into an agreement to acquire a 65% controlling stake in noon payments. NEOPAY already runs the acquiring infrastructure that lets merchants accept card payments, along with omnichannel acceptance and a merchant services platform. This new deal would add noon payments’ embedded payments platform, e-commerce gateway and merchant network across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. That would considerably expand both NEOPAY’s digital commerce capabilities and its regional reach.

For merchants, the attraction is a single provider for online and in-store payments, plus faster settlements, data and analytics, and value-added financial services.

“Payments should be simple, reliable, and built for the markets they serve,” said Faraz Khalid, CEO of noon. His counterpart at NEOPAY, Vibhor Mundhada, added: “We have built a strong payments business in the UAE, and our ambition is now to take that capability across the region”. The acquisition, Mundhada added, would “expand our footprint into Saudi Arabia and Egypt” while reinforcing NEOPAY’s position at home.

Also Read: In Kuwait, Your Surgeon Might Be Operating From Another Country

NEOPAY is also keen to point out potential payment volume increases. The company says noon payments’ integrations with marketplace sellers and online merchants create high transaction density in some of the region’s fastest-growing digital commerce segments. It also believes control of the business would give it access to those merchant relationships and payment flows, and speed up the rollout of alternative payment methods and installment options.

The combined roadmap targets faster merchant onboarding, better payment performance, tighter fraud controls and embedded financial services. The deal could also strengthen cross-border payments and settlement along key regional commerce corridors.