The skies of Saudi Arabia are slated to witness the advent of electric passenger drones before the close of the current year, as disclosed by the chief executive of Alkhobar-based Front End. The revelation came amid discussions at the Future Aviation Forum.
CEO Majed Al-Ghaslan, who also chairs the company, highlighted that Front End’s partnership with EHang, a Chinese pioneer in electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles, is instrumental in bringing these aerial services to the Saudi market.
We’re pushing the boundary of air traffic, also urban traffic management systems. So we’re discussing this with the Civil Aviation Authority here in the Kingdom. We’re very closely aligned with the Ministry of Transport,
stated Al-Ghaslan.
He enthused over the imminent launch of electric flights for passengers, noting that such services are already operational in several global cities, and expressed his desire to see Riyadh and other major Saudi cities join this list.
The viability of deploying passenger-carrying electric drones in the Kingdom is underscored by their successful operation in nations like China, Indonesia, and Japan. Al-Ghaslan elaborated on the capabilities of these proposed flights, which include vertical take-offs and dual functions, serving passenger transport as well as logistics.
According to Al-Ghaslan, these innovative flights can accommodate two passengers for a duration of up to 30 minutes, a span that could be increased with advancements in battery technology.
You can do a 30-minute flight, but still, 30 minutes is a long flight. For example, in Riyadh, you can cover end to end because you are going direct path to anywhere, with two passengers. So you can take up to 250 kilograms. And then with more advanced batteries, the distance can be even higher,
he explained.
These forthcoming autonomous drones in Saudi Arabia will harness cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, to revolutionize air mobility.
Al-Ghaslan also shared his excitement about Front End’s foray into the air mobility sector, a move supported by Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 program, which has been a catalyst for the company’s entry into this innovative industry.
He remarked on the company’s strategy to collaborate with and localize international firms within the Kingdom, a direction that has now expanded into aviation, thanks to the emergence of electric vehicles with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, as well as progress in passenger-level drones.
Emphasizing the role of Vision 2030 in enabling this transformation, Al-Ghaslan noted Front End’s position at the vanguard of this transition from a private sector standpoint.
Additionally, Front End is preparing to launch a ride-hailing service in Saudi Arabia that will employ an all-electric vehicle fleet, in partnership with Blue Smart, a company based in India.
We’re also launching a ride-hailing service. So, this is something we’re also going to be announcing at the right time, again, electric. So, our theme is around sustainability as well. It’s a company from India called Blue Smart. And this is also going to be announced this year,
Al-Ghaslan concluded.