The Growing Influence of Drones in the UAE Market
Any aerial vehicle that takes remote commands from a pilot or relies on software for autonomous flying is called a drone or drones.
Drone technology has been utilized by industries such as videography, search and rescue, agriculture, and transportation.
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), initially designed for the military and aerospace industries, have found their way into the mainstream due to the increased levels of safety and efficiency they provide.
Overview
Types of Drones – Based on Range
➟ Very close-range drones can often go up to three miles and are generally utilized by amateurs.
➟ Close-range UAVs have a range of about 30 miles. Short-range drones can go up to 90 miles and are primarily employed for espionage and intelligence gathering.
➟ Mid-range UAVs have a 400-mile range and could be utilized for intelligence gathering, scientific studies, and meteorological research.
➟ The longest-range drones are known as “endurance” UAVs, which may travel over 400 miles and up to 3,000 feet in the air.
UAE Drones Market Growth and Forecast
The UAE Drone holds approximately 39% share of the GCC Drones market in 2021.
The UAE market is expected to experience significant growth, with a projected CAGR of roughly 12% from 2022 to 2030, driving its market size from $0.38 billion to $0.95 Billion.
Top Players in the UAE
Drivers
➟ The adoption of drones in various industries drives the market
➟ UAE regulations increase the use of drones in delivery services
➟ Drones are used as UAE’s rainfall generation initiative
Challenges
➟ Various licensing regulations issued by the UAE government ensure more safety but might slow the market growth
Statistics
Market Share, By Region
As per the report published in TechSci Research, Dubai holds a significant share (40.21%) of the UAE Drones market. The Dubai market is followed by Abu Dhabi (28.68%) and Sharjah (14.61%) during the period of 2018-2023.
Thermal Drone adoption in UAE in past few years: Usage of Drones to Detect fire-prone areas
In 2015, Technometer, a company in Abu Dhabi, developed drone technology with a thermal camera that can detect temperature changes.
Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) introduced fire surveillance and response drones in October 2017, capable of transmitting live visual data to DCD headquarters. The thermal sensors on the drone are capable of detecting fire-prone areas.
In 2022, the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Department announced launching two high-tech, creative drones to extinguish fires in high-rise buildings up to 800 meters tall. One of the drones has thermal imaging and a payload, while the other has light missiles to eliminate any obstacles at the incident scene.
Abu Dhabi aims to use drones for delivery purposes
The Abu Dhabi Department of Health stated in September 2021 that it would develop a drone delivery system to transport medical supplies – medicine, blood units, vaccines, and samples – between laboratories, pharmacies, and blood banks throughout the city.
The first version of the system was anticipated to be built on a network of 40 distinct stations into and out of which drones would fly. The number of stations is projected to increase over time.
UAE Drones Use-Cases
➟ Defence and Military Industry
On February 2023, Edge Group, UAE’s defence conglomerate, revealed 11 new unmanned systems at the IDEX global weapons exhibition.
These drones focus on intelligence and strike missions, enhancing UAE’s defence capabilities with advanced technology for the defence and military industry.
➟ Cloud Seeding Industry
In September 2021, the UAE employed specialized drones to execute cloud seeding techniques to increase low annual rainfall.
The deployed drones were equipped to fly into clouds and discharge electrical charges to stimulate precipitation by initiating the coalescence of water droplets, and boosting rainfall in arid regions.
➟ Construction Industry
In 2023, Abu Dhabi introduced specialized drones tailored to the construction industry to enhance project efficiency and sustainability.
These drones were employed to monitor construction projects, assess environmental impacts, and gather data for compliance with the Pearl Building Rating System under the Estidama initiative.
➟ Healthcare Industry
In 2023, UAE authorities announced plans for medicine delivery via drones to UAE residents through this innovative approach.
These drones will serve the healthcare industry by delivering medications to residents’ homes, especially in apartments and skyscrapers and ensuring timely and accurate delivery to the right individuals.
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Data Sources: Mordorintelligence, Built In, TS2 Space, and others
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