News

Plans Underway For Massive Middle East Autonomous Freight Network

DP World and Einride will develop the largest electric, autonomous freight mobility operation in the region at Jebel Ali Port.

Published

2 years ago

May 14, 2024

Nour Nasir

plans underway for massive middle east autonomous freight network

Dubai Media Office

Dubai-based logistics company DP World has joined forces with Einride, a leader in freight mobility, to electrify container movements at Jebel Ali Port. The initiative will enhance efficiency and eco-friendliness at the world’s 10th busiest sea logistics hub. The groundbreaking plans include the largest deployment of electric, autonomous freight mobility across the Middle East, revolutionizing regional freight transportation.

The collaboration will begin in late 2024 and aims to ramp up swiftly to accommodate around 1,600 container movements daily. A fleet of 100 interconnected electric trucks will facilitate the expansion, overseen by Einride Saga, the company’s digital platform engineered to optimize electric and autonomous freight operations. A pilot for the autonomous vehicles is scheduled for rollout in 2025.

dp world and einride partnership

At full operational capacity, the venture will reduce carbon dioxide emissions annually by up to 14,600 tonnes and nitrogen oxides by 158 tonnes.

“DP World is committed to making trade smarter, faster, and more sustainable, and our new partnership with Einride aligns perfectly with our vision,” explained Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC. “We have already made significant progress in electrifying and automating our terminals at Jebel Ali Port, and by leveraging Einride’s cutting-edge technology, we can take that to the next level,” he added.

Also Read: Joby To Establish All-Electric Air Taxi Ecosystem Across The UAE

Robert Falck, CEO and Founder of Einride, added: “Our collaboration underscores a shared dedication to sustainability and innovation, merging Einride’s expertise in electrification and autonomous technology with DP World’s global logistics leadership […] This collaboration showcases the effectiveness of combining visionary ideals with decisive action, paving the way for a more resilient future”.

The partnership represents a cornerstone of Einride’s larger strategy with the UAE Government, helping to accelerate the transition to sustainable shipping practices. Einride’s ecosystem, featuring electric and autonomous vehicles, charging infrastructure, and cutting-edge technology, will be deployed extensively across the Falcon Rise grid, heralding a greener, more efficient freight-shipping future.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.