The Abu Dhabi-based drone manufacturer and AI-driven logistics firm, Lodd Autonomous is set to begin parcel and broader air freight delivery services using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Their product is the first civilian aircraft ever built in the UAE at a larger scale. Operations are scheduled to commence during H2, 2026, offering air transport at a fraction of the costs charged today for similar services, claims Lodd. Currently, the first VTOLs (vertical take-off and landing) cargo drones are assembled. Following a thorough test phase, the aerial vehicles will be deployed in the UAE and across the Arabian Peninsula to transport goods by air to their destinations. The unmanned aircraft can lift up to 250 kilograms of cargo over a range of 300 kilometers and land almost at any place without needing a runway. For consumers, that could mean cheaper and faster deliveries, whether it’s e-commerce orders, medical supplies, express items or emergency shipments.
The UAE invests heavily in next-generation transport technologies, including both cargo and passenger drone developments. Main supporter of the Lodd project is the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) which is actively collaborating with the company to provide the needed ground infrastructure and a regulatory framework for VTOL operations. By 2030, the UAE expects the logistics sector’s contribution to reach Dh200 billion (46.2 bn euros). “With our solution we are contributing heavily to reach that target,” stated Rashid Matar Al Manai, CEO of Lodd Autonomous, when presenting the drone program to local media. The executive went on to say: “In regard to establishing the UAE as an innovation hub, Lodd is a great example of how we can create jobs for highly-skilled people and combine their knowledge with local expertise to produce new technologies.”
Further to this, he confirmed that Lodd is in talks with numerous potential customers both within and outside the UAE for the use of the company’s flagship drone, Hili. The logistics sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by growing demand for faster, more flexible, and resilient delivery systems. Traditional logistics often face limitations due to infrastructure bottlenecks — particularly when linking major hubs to remote or regional locations. Lodd’s UAV technology aims to bridge that gap and modernize last-mile and cross-border delivery, writes Dubai-based digital platform, Khaleej Times in a comment.
