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UAE-Based Drone Company Plans Wider MENA Expansion
UVL Robotics is broadening the scope of its commercial drone activities across the Middle East.
UVL Robotics, a UAE-based robotics startup, is the first company to provide a fully operational commercial drone delivery service in the MENA region. After winning several high-profile contracts, the company is now preparing to trial drone flights in Abu Dhabi — an Emirate with over 200 islands.
“It all depends on the graders,” explains CEO Eugene Grankin. “If they rate us well, we could soon get the permission to fly in Abu Dhabi.” Grankin has good reason to be confident. In 2021, after a tropical cyclone hit Oman, UVL drones were successfully deployed to deliver supplies. “We could deliver medicine to remote areas where it took a long time to reach by car,” the CEO explained.
Today, UVL Robotics is focused on inventory management as well as delivery. In Europe, UVL drones can scan 300-750 pallets in under five seconds. The company now uses drones to perform stocktaking at more than 50 warehouse locations, with global companies like PepsiCo utilizing the service.
In the Middle East, sustainability and CO₂ reduction are the primary drivers of drone adoption. Saudi Arabia plans to cut carbon emissions by 278 million tonnes per year, while the UAE has plans to reduce its own output by 31%. Research conducted by UVL found that drones produce 36% fewer emissions than moving the equivalent load volume by truck, despite each UAV having a payload of just 10kg.
As well as reducing CO₂, drones can also improve operational efficiency. In Oman, coastlines and rugged terrain mean that food deliveries typically take 30-60 minutes by human courier. With drones, that time is cut to a predictable 15 minutes. In addition, drones can handle over 30 orders daily, compared to just 20 when delivered by regular vehicle.
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Meanwhile, at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, UVL Robotics is preparing to launch campus-wide smart loading stations, which the company hopes will act as a blueprint for future smart city projects across the region.
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Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.
Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.
The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.
The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.
The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.
Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.
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CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.
The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.
Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
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