The Ministry of Economy has revealed that Meituan UAS, a pioneering drone-enabled food delivery business based in China, will be the latest global tech company to join the NextGen FDI program. A division of China’s largest food delivery platform, Meituan UAS has developed innovative solutions for local deliveries of food and daily essentials using low-altitude logistics. The program will serve as a platform for the company to explore the introduction of its delivery drones, operating systems, and drone hubs in the United Arab Emirates, building upon its successful drone delivery operations in three Chinese cities since 2021.
The entry of Meituan UAS into the UAE market is anticipated to accelerate the country’s aspirations to establish itself as a regional frontrunner in autonomous delivery services, contributing significantly to the establishment of a low-carbon logistics network. Notably, the UAE has already issued licenses for commercial Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drones, with the Dubai Programme to Enable Drone Transportation, initiated in 2021 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, actively developing the necessary infrastructure to enable drone deployment for various commercial applications.
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, emphasized that Meituan’s presence will bolster the UAE’s drone capabilities and foster the development of a center of excellence focused on the high-growth sectors of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and e-commerce. He highlighted the NextGen FDI program’s objective of attracting innovative projects to the UAE, fostering their expansion within the country’s enabling ecosystem, and integrating cutting-edge technologies and practices. Dr. Al Zeyoudi expressed eagerness to collaborate with Meituan to seamlessly integrate their logistics systems into the existing UAE infrastructure, thus delivering technology that truly benefits the nation and its residents.
Commenting on the venture, Dr. Yinian Mao, Vice President at Meituan and General Manager of Meituan UAS, commended the UAE’s commitment to innovation and the robust support extended by government authorities to the UAS sector. Dr. Mao expressed enthusiasm for exploring the potential of drone delivery services in collaboration with local partners, with a focus on promoting safer and more efficient drone logistics solutions.
Meituan UAS recently showcased its cutting-edge urban logistics offerings, including the latest M-Drone Gen 4, at the GITEX event in Dubai. The M-Drone Gen 4 boasts a substantial maximum load capacity of 2.5kg and is equipped to operate autonomously in diverse weather conditions, even with temperatures soaring up to 60 degrees Celsius.
Introduced in 2022, the NextGen FDI initiative aims to bolster the growth of the UAE’s knowledge-driven economy by expediting incorporation processes, facilitating bulk or golden visa issuance, streamlining banking services, and providing commercial and residential lease incentives for advanced technology companies aiming to establish a presence in the UAE.
