Terra Drone Arabia Supports Hajj Season Medical Deliveries Through Drone Initiative With NUPCO
Terra Drone Arabia has announced its role as the technical partner and drone operator in a new initiative spearheaded by the National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO), in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Health.
The program, launched ahead of the 1446H Hajj season, leverages drone technology to accelerate the delivery of medical supplies across key pilgrimage sites.
The initiative aims to improve healthcare logistics during Hajj by tackling transport delays in high-density areas such as Mina and Arafat. Ground-based deliveries in these locations can take over 90 minutes due to congestion.
By contrast, drones can complete deliveries in under six minutes, directly supporting emergency medical services.
As the technical operator, Terra Drone Arabia deployed DJI M350 RTK drones, each fitted with purpose-built transport containers designed to maintain necessary temperature conditions for medical supplies.
The drone fleet was operated using the Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) system developed by Unifly, a Terra Drone group company. The UTM platform allowed real-time tracking, conflict resolution with other airspace users, and ensured safe landing operations.
The integrated safety framework was fully compliant with regulatory standards for dense urban environments.
Reducing Response Times With Smart Airspace Management
Operations were carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and coordinated with multiple regulatory entities, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
This multi-agency collaboration ensured secure and efficient use of airspace throughout the operation.
“Terra Drone Arabia is proud to be part of this ambitious project, which represents a significant step toward applying cutting-edge technologies in service of the community,” the company said in a statement.
“Our partnership with NUPCO in this initiative exemplifies successful integration between sectors to deliver effective and innovative solutions.”
The project’s success not only demonstrated the value of drones in critical logistics during peak periods but also highlighted their potential for broader use across the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia.
It aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives and ongoing efforts to drive digital transformation across vital industries.