Drone Delivery Systems for Logistics Operations: A Sustainable Regulatory Framework for the UAE

With the continued expansion of e-commerce, logisticians' obligation to address last-mile delivery challenges has grown. To improve delivery operations, innovative solutions such as drone are being integrated into traditional delivery networks. When drones are paired with other vehicles (e.g. truck), they produce a more flexible, if complex, truck-drone delivery system that allows customers to be reached using either the truck or a drone. Combined drone delivery systems have attained interest from academic and practitioners, with focusing mainly on the economic viability of such systems. However, less attention is paid to their environmental and social considerations. While logistics companies are primarily motivated to minimize last-mile costs, regulatory authorities should pursue efficient last-mile processes in order to accomplish broader goals and ensure sustainability. Therefore, regulatory authorities must develop, implement, amend, and enforce legislation more promptly as drone technologies drive new business and service models. Current regulatory frameworks do not yet consider the use of drones in delivery systems. In addition, addressing environmental and social impacts of drone delivery systems is scarce. Therefore, this research aims to identify the critical challenges and enablers of drone delivery systems. Then, a sustainable regulatory framework that promotes the development and implementation of drone delivery systems while improving control and monitoring of safety, security, social, and environmental aspects that go beyond commercial reasons will be proposed.