Muscat – A first-of-its-kind parcel delivery service using drones was launched in Muscat on Wednesday. In the first phase, parcels will be delivered to residents of Muscat Bay residential complex in Qantab and areas near it.

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has tied up with UVL Robotics, a global provider of drone-based solutions, to support the localisation of drone technologies and to maximise the use of modern technologies in e-commerce.

In the subsequent phases, parcel delivery will be expanded to other areas of the wilayat of Muscat, including Yeti, Yanket, Al Khairan and Sifah.

UVL Robotics will deploy drones of 25km range and 5kg payload capacity to deliver merchandise, food parcels and more.

At the launch, Mohammed bin Sulaiman al Kindi, Deputy Governor of Muscat, said, “The traditional delivery service to the villages of Muscat is a challenge as these are far from the service centres. It increases cost and is time consuming.”

He informed that the governorate is exerting efforts to support e-commerce with a delivery system using drones in cooperation with relevant government entities.

H E Dr Ali bin Amer al Shedhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology in the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, described the launch of the drone service as a qualitative development in use of modern technology to meet the requirements of citizens and residents.