After a coup, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan was replaced by his younger brother Zayed in 1966 as the ruler of Abu Dhabi. Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan remained the ruler of Abu Dhabi, uniting the Arab Emirates until his death in 2004. He is considered the Father of the Nation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the driving force behind the nation’s prolific success. Zayed changed the course of the UAE by investing the area’s oil revenues in modern infrastructure, technology, healthcare, and education.

Today, Zayed’s vision has positioned the UAE as the most diversified economy within the Gulf Cooperation Council. The country has become world-famous for its innovation, booming business, luxury, and popular tourism industry. Zayed’s commitment to improved infrastructure and technology has ranked the small country as the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world, with Dubai International Airport outranking London Heathrow Airport as the world’s busiest airport.

With the UAE’s continued growth comes the need to embrace emerging technology. Since the dawn of the drone industry revolution, the UAE has welcomed innovators willing to push the boundaries of drone technology. One such example is when the UAE teamed up with researchers from the United Kingdom and the National Center of Meteorology to launch a unique experiment using drones for cloud seeding to increase annual rainfall in the UAE’s arid climate zone.

Another example shows how the UAE is utilizing drone technology not just for scientific pursuits but also to address more traditional endeavors surrounding the UAE’s official national religion, Islam. To mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to view the crescent moon to determine the fasting period. This year, in collaboration with astronomical observatories and researchers, the UAE Council for Fatwa announced that they would be using drones with AI to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to fully visualize the crescent moon. “This demonstrates the country’s leadership in adopting innovative technological solutions as it combines modern advancements with traditional practices,” stated the UAE Council for Fatwa.

Shortly before the holy month of Ramadan, the UAE also announced that the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), similar to the Federal Aviation Administration, has begun using drones to map out urban air mobility routes. In order to keep up with tourism and the multitude of businesses surrounding the industry, the UAE needs to increase air mobility for people, cargo, and day-to-day commercial activity. This move sets the UAE apart from many other countries aiming to develop aerial corridors dedicated to drones and modern urban mobility options.

The United States and the United Kingdom have both begun working to develop the infrastructure frameworks needed to build designated drone corridors for logistical cargo transportation. However, both countries are traditionally bogged down by regulatory delays. The UAE, on the contrary, has found a way to fast-track such procedures while still keeping safety and regulatory processes in mind. The GCAA has stated that the air corridor will be fully functional within the next 20 months.

Enabling the process is a multi-agency collaboration between the GCAA and the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), which includes the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and ASPIRE, the UAE’s dedicated technology research and development center. Air mobility pioneers like Germany’s Volocopter and Joby Aviation, based out of Santa Cruz, CA, are also working with the GCAA to become some of the first in the world to offer comprehensive urban air mobility options. The GCAA also stated that the development of this air corridor will allow the UAE to fully utilize drones to transport cargo to businesses or everyday items to residents and tourists.

With the drone mapping already underway, the GCAA’s goal of opening the air mobility corridor by 2026 seems likely to be met on time. “Air corridor mapping for piloted and autonomous air taxis and drones is a crucial milestone that will enable the seamless implementation of Advanced Air Mobility into the UAE’s infrastructure,” said His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA. “This initiative ensures the safe and efficient adoption of air mobility, delivering transformative solutions to urban transport and paving the way for a smarter, more connected future.”

In the same way that Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan transformed the UAE by investing in infrastructure and technology, the nation’s continued embrace of innovative solutions, such as drone technology, is setting the stage for its future growth and success. From scientific experiments to the incorporation of traditional beliefs and the support of a growing nation, the UAE’s use of drone technology is a testament to the lasting vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

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