Silicon Central becomes Keeta’s Dubai drone delivery hub

Dubai Silicon Central Mall has become the inaugural operational center for Keeta Drone's food delivery service in Dubai, facilitating autonomous flights between participating restaurants and customers throughout Dubai Silicon Oasis. The service, approved by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, enables customers to order select items of food and beverage via the Keeta application, with drones transporting the orders to designated collection hubs within the Dubai Silicon Oasis.

Customers can currently retrieve their orders from lockers at Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai and the Emirates Building near Foodings Cafe.

Silicon Central Mall, developed and managed by Line Investments & Property, serves as the principal departure point for this latest phase of Keeta's Dubai operations. Retailers and food outlets within the mall are integrated into the autonomous delivery network, providing nearby residents access to drone transportation without needing an alternate ordering platform.

The offered food and beverage selection comprises coffee, specialty drinks, shawarma, desserts, Italian cuisine, and Indian dishes, sourced from local, regional, and international operators.

Keeta Drone general manager, Junwei Yang, highlighted Dubai as a key market for the company's global expansion. The integration of autonomous delivery into their primary app aims to make drone transport a common food ordering option rather than a specialized demonstration. Line Investments & Property's Dubai and Northern Emirates general manager, Navaneeth Sudhakaran, explained that the mall's involvement in the service is part of their commitment to integrating new technology into customer experiences.

The partnership aims to offer faster delivery options to surrounding communities while exposing mall visitors to emerging logistics technology.

This deployment follows Dubai's established framework for commercial drone delivery. Dubai Silicon Oasis previously hosted pilot flights before the emirate officially launched a drone delivery system in December 2024, following collaboration with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority, and Dubai Future Foundation.

The Keeta system incorporates purpose-built drones, automated operating stations, and software for route planning, flight control, and monitoring. Dubai authorities have imposed requirements for approved operating zones, infrastructure assessments, and safety controls for the network's expansion. Keeta's drones utilize flight-control algorithms and multi-sensor positioning technology tailored for urban environments, equipped with low-noise propellers, a parachute, and an internally developed flight-control system.

The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Keeta signed an agreement in January 2025 to regulate and ensure safety for drone deliveries within designated zones.

The broader programme aligns with Dubai's plan to expand drone-based transport while maintaining oversight for low-altitude commercial flights. Authorities have set a target for drone delivery services to account for 33% of Dubai's transportation by 2030, contingent upon regulatory, infrastructure, and safety considerations. The story of Silicon Central becoming Keeta's Dubai drone delivery hub was originally published on the Arabian Post.