Image credit: Supplied
noon Minutes, the on-demand quick-commerce service by noon, successfully carried out multiple fully autonomous drone deliveries during DriftX, an international exhibition for smart and autonomous technologies held as part of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week. The demonstration, which required no human control, showcased the future of last-mile logistics and marked a major step toward making autonomous delivery a standard in the UAE.
Visitors to the noon stand at DriftX were able to order products directly from a touchscreen and receive their deliveries by autonomous drone in under 15 minutes. Over the two-day event, noon completed more than 50 autonomous deliveries, ranging from food to toys and personal care items, underscoring its commitment to innovation and ongoing investment in next-generation technology aimed at making deliveries faster, smarter, and more sustainable.
Read more-Healthcare innovation: How drones are transforming medicine delivery in Saudi
The activation was powered by key technology partners: the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), which provided the autonomy system; SteerAI, which supplied the fleet-management software coordinating each flight; and LODD, which provided and monitored the drone hardware.
This showcase followed successful testing in late October, when a drone delivered a two-kilogram parcel from a noon Minutes mini-fulfillment center to another mini-fulfillment center in Bani Yas in under four minutes. The project was carried out under the oversight of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which is collaborating with the Advanced Technology Research Council to define airspace regulations and develop advanced airspace-management systems for the UAE.
Strategic shift towards autonomous last-mile logistics
Ali Kafil-Hussain, noon’s CBO, said, “We’re working hard to completely rethink delivery, making it faster and better for the planet. With the support of TII, SteerAI, and LODD, we’re bringing this vision to life. Our aim is: to set a new standard for delivery, ensuring everyone gets their order quickly and reliably, whether they live in the city center or in a remote area.”
Dr Najwa Aaraj, CEO of the Technology Innovation Institute, added, “TII’s AI-driven autonomy stack integrates advanced perception, decision-making, communication, localisation, and navigation to enable unmanned vehicles to operate quickly, precisely, and safely, changing the way we define mobility.”
Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of SteerAI, emphasised the importance of systems integration. “Autonomous technology requires careful oversight and management to deliver impact. CoreConnect, our fleet management system, enables real-time mission planning, deployment, and tracking of any vehicle or drone, ensuring fast, safe delivery. This milestone shows how integrated autonomous systems can drive real, scalable results.”
Rashid Al Manai, CEO of LODD, noted, “We are reimagining last-mile delivery to be faster and more sustainable for every customer. This partnership sets a new standard for sustainable, reliable delivery in the UAE. AI-powered coordination and autonomous systems will redefine how we move goods across cities.”
Scaling towards industry adoption
Following the successful activation at DriftX, noon and its partners are now focused on transitioning autonomous last-mile delivery from demonstration to day-to-day operational reality. The next planned milestone will allow customers to choose drone delivery directly in the noon app, complete with real-time tracking and visibility as parcels travel from noon’s warehouses to customers’ doorsteps, within a 15-minute delivery standard.
The technology will also expand delivery access to areas difficult to reach by traditional methods, including islands, farms, and emerging residential zones. The initiative is expected to help noon Minutes deliver faster and more reliably to communities across the UAE, supporting the broader national agenda of enabling intelligent mobility and advanced logistics.
talabat and K2 Sign MoU to pilot commercial drone deliveries
In a parallel development further accelerating the UAE’s autonomous-delivery landscape, talabat UAE, the on-demand delivery platform in MENA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with K2 on November 19 to pilot a commercial drone-delivery service for food and groceries. The agreement reflects both organisations’ commitment to innovation, community impact, and sustainable growth.
The collaboration brings together two market leaders with a shared vision for enhancing service ecosystems and creating long-term value across several customer touch points. The pilot will explore a drone-to-station delivery model designed to improve delivery efficiency, reduce operational emissions, and streamline logistics in high-demand areas, a WAM report said.
Mayank Khaitan, director of Logistics at talabat, said, “At talabat, innovation is at the core of how we evolve the last-mile experience for our customers and riders. Our partnership with K2 marks an important step in exploring autonomous delivery capabilities that make our operations smarter, safer, and more efficient. By integrating cutting-edge technology with scalable delivery solutions, we’re supporting the UAE’s vision for a future where intelligent mobility drives real impact.”
Waleed AlBlooshi, VP of Strategy at K2, added, “Our collaboration with talabat marks another important step in shaping Abu Dhabi’s autonomous future. By integrating drone delivery into K2’s smart-city ecosystem, we are proving that autonomy is no longer a concept, it is a real service that improves everyday life. Together with talabat, we’re building scalable, practical solutions that will redefine last-mile delivery across the UAE.”
Through this pilot, talabat and K2 will explore how drone delivery can be integrated into urban environments, testing models that enhance delivery efficiency, reduce emissions, and improve operational workflows. The initiative reinforces both companies’ commitment to innovation and learning, while supporting the UAE’s vision for smarter, future-ready logistics.
