3 min read
Expo City Dubai has unveiled a four-month pilot program featuring robot-powered food delivery.
The initiative, launched in collaboration with global tech innovator Yango Group, introduces compact delivery robots that are designed to operate independently across designated areas of Expo City.
With their AI-enabled navigation systems, these robots can calculate routes in real time and bypass obstacles. They also prioritize pedestrian movement, all without human assistance.
Designed for the City of the Future
For now, the service caters exclusively to the Al Wasl 3 office building, where users can order meals via the Expo City Eats app. These meals are then delivered from four select restaurants to a fixed delivery point, handled entirely by autonomous robots powered by electricity, ensuring zero emissions and minimal noise pollution.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Expo City Dubai on this pilot program. Its clearly defined zones provide a perfectly controlled environment to safely and efficiently test autonomous technologies. In line with Expo City’s vision as a blueprint for future cities, our robots combine cutting-edge AI technology and sustainable last-mile delivery practices to elevate daily life in smart communities,”
— Nikita Gavrilov, Regional Head, Yango Tech Autonomy
Urban Lab: The Launchpad for Technological Breakthroughs
The launch fits seamlessly into Expo City’s broader identity as a testing ground for next-generation solutions. As the former site of Expo 2020, the district has transformed into a living laboratory of innovation, making it an ideal environment for real-world trials of disruptive technologies.
“Expo City is a testbed for bold breakthroughs in technology and innovation, with its Urban Lab providing an open city-wide space to pilot and scale solutions needed for future human-centric cities. Urban Lab lowers barriers to innovation, rigorously testing solutions and preparing markets to adopt impactful, sustainable technologies. Testing Yango Group’s autonomous delivery robots at Expo City is one of many ways that our Urban Lab is setting the standard for cities of the future,”
— Dr Amy Hochadel, Vice President – Urban Lab, Expo City Dubai
The robots are part of Yango Tech Autonomy, a division of Yango Group. They use HD maps and multiple sensors. This helps them navigate in low light as well as bad weather. They are built to work reliably in any urban environment.
Additionally, this is Yango’s first robot deployment in the Middle East. The company has already tested similar systems in other countries. The Expo City trial highlights their advanced technology. It also shows their plan to grow AI-powered logistics in the region.
If the trial works well, the service will expand. More restaurants will join, and deliveries will be made to residents and businesses across Expo City.
This pilot merges smart logistics, clean energy, and AI-driven automation. Moreover, it shows Dubai’s strong commitment to reimagining city life. The project could become a model for future urban development around the world.
