There is talk from practically every part of the globe over how the Covid-19 pandemic will accelerate trends we were seeing prior to this scourge: automation, remote work and telemedicine, to name a few, are all making leaps, condensing years of innovation and investment into the wild year that is 2020.
While it can be difficult to discern the signal from the noise, Dubai's announcement this week to establish a drone delivery network is a clear signal.
“If you came to me three months ago and said Dubai would have an airport network and ground control infrastructure for drones, I would have said five years from now, maybe," Rabih Bou Rashid, the founder of Dubai's Falcon Eye Drones Services, told me this week.
But the need for social distancing to reduce human interaction changed the script, he said, and now there is new urgency.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid visits Dubai Future Labs.
What if, for example, Dubai's Al Ras were ever to go into a full, localised quarantine? How would needed medicines and food be delivered to its inhabitants safely?
Drones are making deliveries with increasing regularity in rural areas all over the globe. Amazon is testing them in the UK and FedEx is doing so in the US state of Tennessee.
The big-ticket commercial contracts for drone companies in the region today are in monitoring industrial infrastructure, in places where it is straightforward to navigate and there aren't many people around.
But a municipal or national regulatory framework and the infrastructure to put those regulations to use in an urban environment – these would be unprecedented.
Dubai's Law No 04 of 2020 sets the precedent.
All drones use in Dubai had previously fallen under the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regulations, as laid down in UAE Federal Resolution No 2 of 2015. The new drone law paves the way for the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCAA) to implement its "Dubai Sky Dome" initiative, which aims to create a virtual airspace infrastructure and ecosystem for commercial drone use throughout the emirate, according to Carrington Malin, an independent technology consultant who is studying the implications of the new regulation.
Hundreds of drones lit up the night sky in Seoul as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Hundreds of drones lit up the night sky in Seoul as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Hundreds of drones lit up the night sky in Seoul as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Hundreds of drones lit up the night sky in Seoul as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Hundreds of drones lit up the night sky in Seoul as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
Drones fly over the Han river showing messages to support the country, as measures to avoid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue, in Seoul, South Korea, July 4, 2020. Picture taken July 4, 2020. Yonhap via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. SOUTH KOREA OUT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Drones have provided us with the most vivid visuals of what it might be like to do battle with a pandemic in the future. The use of drones has been well documented, but the examples highlight how niche they still are. A show of 300 of the aircraft taking flight to thank healthcare workers in Seoul this week grabbed international headlines. Videos of unmanned aerial vehicles spraying streets in Dubai with disinfectant were forwarded ad nauseam over WhatsApp during the sanitisation campaign.
I point these out not to discourage the pluck, but drones today could not live up to what we would need them to do in a worst-case scenario. Regulation and infrastructure simply aren’t ready. This week, Dubai took a brave step to change that.
That the announcement came the same week that Dubai reopened to international tourists is particularly poetic.
If a worst-case scenario is that drones are deployed to deliver emergency pharmaceuticals and sustenance to people in the crosshairs of a pandemic, I can think of a million-and-one best cases – many of them indulgent, but surely profitable. Imagine a drone setting off from Dubai Mall, carrying a bauble from Cartier or Rolex, and making its way to a delighted guest at the Burj Al Arab.
Or think of our primal attraction to the Dubai Fountain – with its 16 million visitors a year. What about the addition of choreographed drone displays among the tallest tower and biggest fountain?
Out of the gate, Dubai has said it aims to attract logistics and e-commerce companies to its Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub under its new laws. There they can work out how to transport and deliver packages safely using drones in an urban environment, one that is still being built and so has the flexibility to add the infrastructure that will one day be needed.
The director of public policy at Chinese drone-maker DJI for the EMEA region, Christian Struwe, told me that – from his experience of having worked closely with government entities in Dubai – safety will come first.
"At a time in which every corner of the globe is looking at the drone applications of tomorrow, it is important to strike a balance that will allow us to be forward looking and ambitious, without hindering on the use of drones we see today," he said. If regulations are too strict, they will run the risk of impeding industry innovation.
Hand sanitisers set up across the facilities at the Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
A father and his son enjoy a bike ride along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
Abu Dhabi residents wait for their bus. Victor Besa / The National
A Covid-19 sign along Reem Beach reminds residents exercising to be responsible. Victor Besa / The National
Face masks on Union Coop’s shelves in Al Barsha Mall in Dubai. Reem Mohammed / The National
People wait in a queue to get tested for Covid-19 in City Walk. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Cleaning staff disinfect the sitting area at the Towers Rotana hotel on Sheikh Zayed road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
A man makes prayer beads in his shop at Central Souq in Sharjah. Getty
A vendor arranges carpets in his shop at Central Souq in Sharjah. Getty Images
Tourists arrive at Dubai airport as the emirate reopened its doors to international visitors. AFP
There is a small amount of relief in the fact that we are experiencing a pandemic like this one now, in 2020, as opposed to the 1990s. Our expertise and technical prowess across industries have given us some advantages over this terrifying novel coronavirus. But we were by no means prepared as a planet, and most of our greatest technologies to overcome Covid-19 are still in their infancy. Applications for more fully realised artificial intelligence, 3D printing and automation could all one day deploy inoculation at a rate we cannot even fathom today. Regulation and infrastructure for drones to deliver that treatment to areas at scale would also be useful. We are not there yet and there is plenty more work to be done.
Mr Bou Rashid, the Falcon Eye founder, says that to start, packages will not weigh much more than 2 kilograms. As a policy, his company's drones avoid jobs that require flying over people. For now, he says it is just not safe. He sees that rapidly changing as Dubai becomes an R&D hub for urban drones.
Mark his words, the first pilotless flying taxi service – not test flight – will carry passengers from Jumeirah. It will soar over water to land at the Burj Al Arab. And it will do it much sooner than we had imagined only a week ago.
Kelsey Warner is the Future Editor at The National
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Flydubai operates up to seven flights a week to Helsinki. Return fares to Helsinki from Dubai start from Dh1,545 in Economy and Dh7,560 in Business Class.
The stay
Golden Crown Igloos in Levi offer stays from Dh1,215 per person per night for a superior igloo; www.leviniglut.net
Panorama Hotel in Levi is conveniently located at the top of Levi fell, a short walk from the gondola. Stays start from Dh292 per night based on two people sharing; www. golevi.fi/en/accommodation/hotel-levi-panorama
Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi offers stays from Dh1,379 per night based on two people sharing; www.arctictreehousehotel.com
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
