Emirates SkyCargo and LODD Team Up for Drone Delivery Revolution

Editorial Team

Last updated 21-11-2025

3 min

Emirates SkyCargo partnered with LODD Autonomous to explore drone-powered cargo delivery solutions.

A memorandum of understanding was signed, paving the way for thorough tests and studies until 2027.

LODD's autonomous aircraft, Hili, demonstrated impressive capabilities with a successful test flight recently.

The partnership aims to address logistics challenges, potentially reshaping transport with emerging technologies.

Both companies see potential for the UAE to become a logistics leader through this innovative collaboration.

Emirates SkyCargo has teamed up with Abu Dhabi’s LODD Autonomous in a move that could give drone-powered cargo delivery a serious push. The two sides signed an MoU during the Dubai Airshow, setting the stage for a series of tests and studies to see how VTOL aircraft—basically drones that take off and land vertically—might fit into Emirates’ huge global network. I’ve seen plenty of ambitious drone projects over the years while covering startups for Arageek, and honestly, half of them felt a bit of a faff. But this one has some real weight behind it.

The deal was signed by Badr Abbas, who oversees Emirates SkyCargo, and LODD’s CEO Rashid Al Manai. What they’re planning isn’t just a quick demo and a photo op. Emirates SkyCargo will join LODD’s experimental operations all the way through 2027, offering insights from its four decades in cargo logistics. That said, translating experimental tech into everyday operations is never a walk in the park. Regulations alone can drag for ages, you know?

Still, LODD seems to be off to a strong start. Just last week, the company successfully completed the first test flight of its unmanned hybrid aircraft, Hili. It’s a heavy‑lift machine, fully autonomous from the moment it lifts off until it touches down again. It can carry payloads for up to 250 km and travel as far as 700 km, which is nothing to sneeze at. I reckon this kind of range could be a game changer for regional deliveries, especially in places where traditional infrastructure is limited.

Abbas said the partnership reflects a commitment to bringing in new tools that address customers’ logistics challenges, adding that emerging technologies will define the next chapter of global transport. On the flip side, Al Manai highlighted how the collaboration could speed up the adoption of drone-based solutions, cutting delivery times while keeping safety standards spot on.

What struck me most is how clearly both sides see the UAE’s chance to cement itself as a logistics powerhouse. And believe it or not, moments like these remind me why many founders across MENA tell us at Arageek that innovation here moves faster than people expect—sometimes almost too fast to keep up with… well, almost.

Whether this leads to full commercial deployment is still to be seen, but the intent is there. And if everything aligns, this could be one of those rare projects that goes from shiny prototype to real-world impact, leaving the rest of the industry chuffed to bits—or maybe just scrambling to keep pace.

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