Dubai CommerCity (DCC), a free zone dedicated exclusively to digital commerce and a joint venture between DIEZ and Wasl Properties, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Aramex and QuikBot Technologies to launch the trial run of QuikBot’s Autonomous Final-Mile Delivery (AFMD) Platform-as-a-service at DCC.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, executive chairman of DIEZ and chairman of the Board of Dubai CommerCity, His Excellency Raziff Aljunied, consul general of Singapore, and Manosij Ganguli, group chief sustainability officer at Aramex.
The MoU, Dubai Media Office reported, was signed by Amna Lootah, board member of Dubai CommerCity; Tarek Abu Yaghi, general manager of Aramex; and Alan Ng, founder and CEO of QuikBot Technologies, on the sidelines of WORLDEF Dubai 2024 forum, held on December 4-5, at Dubai CommerCity in cooperation with WORLDEF, an international platform aimed at helping companies in cross-border trade and digital commerce grow globally.
Alignment with Dubai’s robotics initiative
This MoU aligns with the Dubai Robotics and Automation Program, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. The program seeks to position Dubai among the top 10 cities globally in adopting and developing robotics and automation technologies within the next decade, enhancing efficiency and productivity in service, industrial, and logistics sectors, while boosting Dubai’s economic competitiveness.
Commitment to technological innovation
Commenting on the partnership, Amna Lootah stated that Dubai CommerCity is committed to adopting the latest technological innovations that drive operational efficiency and productivity, enhancing the logistics services system in Dubai. She highlighted that the trial run of the QuikBot autonomous delivery robots represents a significant step in this direction, further solidifying Dubai CommerCity’s position as a leading hub for digital commerce and future technologies. This collaboration supports their vision of providing the ideal platform for companies aiming to expand in the region.
Tarek Abu Yaghi expressed pleasure in cooperating with Dubai CommerCity and QuikBot Technologies to test the advanced autonomous robots in the free zone. He emphasized that this new collaboration underscores their commitment to adopting innovative and sustainable solutions to provide the highest levels of delivery services to customers, all the way to their final destination.
Alan Ng conveyed enthusiasm about partnering with Aramex to launch the first advanced Autonomous Last-Mile Delivery Platform in Dubai. He noted that Dubai CommerCity, with its state-of-the-art infrastructure, provides the ideal environment for their solution and expressed a desire to replicate this success in other cities in the future.
Trial launch details
The MoU outlines the cooperation between the parties to launch and test autonomous robots’ final destination (or last mile) delivery services across various Dubai CommerCity facilities and buildings. During the trial, Dubai CommerCity will allocate designated areas for robot parking and charging, integrate them with smart building IoT systems to enable access to lifts and security turnstiles, and actively promote their adoption among companies within the free zone for last-mile delivery solutions.
Under the MoU, Aramex will leverage its new outlet in Dubai CommerCity to act as a pickup and drop location for QuikBot Technologies to receive packages, while QuikBot Technologies will provide and operate the autonomous delivery robots, in addition to supplying Aramex with a specialized application for managing deliveries, along with technical, engineering, and troubleshooting services.
Read more: Food delivery robots will soon take to the streets in Dubai
Overview of Dubai CommerCity
Dubai CommerCity offers an innovative digital commerce system, providing exceptional competitive advantages and a unique value proposition to support its clients in helping them grow and further scale their business. Among its offerings are integrated solutions that allow companies to operate easily and efficiently, advisory and consultancy services on sector regulations in the region, integrated logistics solutions including warehousing and last-mile delivery, integrated digital commerce platform solutions, digital marketing services, and many other support services.
Spanning 2.1 million square feet and developed at a cost of AED3.2 billion, Dubai CommerCity features world-class infrastructure designed to support new and existing digital trade companies in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, as it provides a selection of modern offices and advanced warehouses. In addition to flexible office spaces and scalable centers, Dubai CommerCity provides a unique ecosystem of e-commerce, logistics, and technology services for companies operating in the digital trade sector and other fields.
