Drone and robotics are evolving industry worldwide as well as in the Middle East where the UAE has taken a leadership role in gradually deploying them in government departments and public

facilities – in addition to bringing in driverless vehicles and flying taxis – to transform its urban infrastructure into smart cities where drones, machines, robotics and AI will play a

crucial role. In 2023, the Dubai Government announced that it aims to increase the robotics sector’s contribution to Dubai’s GDP to 9 per cent by 2032. The emirate wants to turn robotics

into a Dh35 billion ($9.5 billion) industry. As part of the Dubai Robotics and Automation (R&A) Program, 200,000 robots will be provided over the next 10 years until 2032, to increase

drones including renting and offering drone display services. More than 20 billion robots will be serving 10 billion human beings by 2050, reshaping lifestyles, labour markets and societies,

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs told delegates at the World Government Summit in February this year. Reflecting on the drastic changes in the last 25 years

since the year 2000, Al Gergawi said, “The world’s population has grown to 8.2 billion today, and the global economy has expanded from $34 trillion to $115 trillion by 2024. International

trade surged from $7 trillion to $33 trillion over the same period.” He highlighted the rapid growth of digital connectivity, with internet usage soaring from less than 7 per cent of the

global population in 2000 to over 60 per cent today. “In 2050, over 20 billion robots will assist humans, and the space economy is expected to reach $4 trillion,” he said. Private sector

businesses have started to bring in some of the best technologies in drones, robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, etc, that will help the UAE to realise its Fourth Industrial

Revolution Strategy that aims to strengthen the UAE’s position as a global hub for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and to increase its contribution to the national economy by advancing

innovation and future technologies. It also aims to position the UAE as a global model in adopting leading-edge technologies to serve society and achieve happiness and sustainability. While

a number of global conglomerates are also entering and setting up their branches to introduce driverless cars, flying taxis and drone-led home delivery eco-system, others are appointing

local companies as their sales and servicing agents who will deploy these technologies in the UAE and the region. With rapid transformation driven by the government’s futuristic vision, the

UAE will soon see large-scale deployment of robots across all public services ranging from courier to food delivery – that will push up the demand for robots and drones. Sigma Enterprises is

bringing Swiss robots and drones for the GCC countries to protect critical infrastructure, assets and increase the flow of data for increased efficiency and cost reduction. Sigma

Enterprises, a member of the Mazrui International, has taken a leadership role in bringing the latest Swiss robotics and drone technology to the GCC countries that are famous for precision

data, surveillance supported by Artificial Intelligence that will play a crucial role in protecting critical infrastructure including oil and gas, utility, nuclear power plant, manufacturing

industries, airport and aviation assets, among others. Sigma Enterprises showcased the Swiss precision robotics and drones solutions from Anybotics, Flyability and Wingtra at the First

Swiss Future Tech event held in Abu Dhabi recently. Sigma, which represents a number of global technology and engineering products in the Gulf, has acquired exclusive distribution rights for

Swiss based Anybotics, Flyability and Wingtra in the UAE. It is currently deploying them with its customers offering end-to-end solutions, training and after-sales service.  The

introduction of world’s best robotic technology from ANYbotics with Swiss precision by Sigma Enterprises in the region will boost the revenue in the robotics market to $241.95 million in the

UAE this year with service robotic dominating the market with projected market value of $223.75 million. This is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.45 per cent

to $360.12 million by 2029. Bilateral trade between the UAE and Switzerland has exceeded $2.5 billion, according to Dr. Arthur Mattli, Swiss Ambassador to the UAE. “In an ever-evolving

world, we are witnessing a quiet revolution through the evolution of Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, robotics, data science, precision technology, innovation as well as he

development of the drone technology,” Dr. Arthur Mattli said. “With our shared ethics of precision and innovation, we can assure you that machines will not replace us but protect us. The

accuracy of their data will determine the effectiveness of the new smart cities that are being built across the world. “Sigma Enterprises’ partnership with leading Swiss tech firms

represents a significant collaboration between the two nations who share similar ideologies in innovation and technology. This partnership is a historic milestone in our relationship and

marks the beginning of Emirati-Swiss collaboration that will strengthen the ties between the UAE and Switzerland. “Today, we celebrate not just technology but also mission, collaboration,

and the pioneering spirit that drives innovation forward. ANYbotics, Flyability, and Wingtra do not just build machines; rather, they are pioneers of the future. They combine innovation,

artificial intelligence, and Swiss precision to develop smarter tools benefitting various industries,” Dr. Arthur Mattli concluded. ANYbotics is a fast-growing company with over 100

employees focused on supporting the inspection needs of workers in oil & gas, power, energy, mining, processing, chemicals, transportation, and construction. In 2023, SIGMA Enterprises

signed an agreement to bring the latest robotics solutions from ANYbotics – one of the world’s most renowned producers of industrial and commercial robots that play crucial role in

protecting critical infrastructure. Since 2016, Swiss robotics company ANYbotics developed innovative, intelligent, and integrated robotic solutions that improve workers’ lives, increase

productivity, and support more sustainable industrial facilities. Partnering with global technology leaders, ANYbotics provides large asset operators with autonomous, automated, end-to-end

robotic inspection solutions for complex, hazardous, and explosive industrial environments.  Sigma Enterprises also has signed up with Flyability and Wingtra to deploy their latest drone

technology that will play a great role in monitoring, surveillance, data analytics, preventive maintenance and help sustain the life-cycle of critical infrastructure and physical assets.

Charbel Khoury, Group CEO of Mazrui International, said, “Mazrui Group is a diversified business conglomerate with interests in trading, construction, services, real estate and oil and gas

sector, with a legacy of more than five decades. We have been bringing the latest industrial solutions to help our economy with the best services and solutions. “We are delighted to

collaborate with ANYbotics, Flyability, and Wingtra to bring the latest improved technologies in challenging landscapes of industries like oil and gas, construction, chemicals, power and

utilities, and metals in the UAE and broader GCC. Our partnership with these Swiss robotics and drone technology solutions providers will help us to strengthen the life-cycle of the region’s

critical infrastructure, reduce maintenance cost, and extend the life-cycle of assets and maximizing profitability of businesses.” Flyability is a pioneer in the development of indoor

drones designed to access and inspect hard-to-reach, hazardous environments — eliminating the need to send humans into dangerous spaces. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Switzerland, the

company leads the market in commercial indoor drone technology, driven by continuous innovation and a strong focus on research and development. Flyability is transforming traditional

inspection methods by enabling safe, efficient, and cost-effective visual data collection across industries. On the other hand Wingtra, based in Zurich, Switzerland, is the global leader in

vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones for professional surveying. Since launching in 2017, Wingtra has built a strong global presence, partnering with over 80 major surveying equipment

dealers across 50+ countries. With a team of 100+ employees — over 40 dedicated to research and development and many alumni of ETH Zurich — Wingtra designs, manufactures, and supports its

products in-house. The WingtraOne drone, equipped with best-in-class sensors and PPK technology, delivers survey-grade aerial data with exceptional accuracy and efficiency, serving

industries from construction and mining to environmental monitoring. Globally, 8.2 million drones were active in 2024, which is expected to grow to 9.5 million by 2029. In 2025, the global

revenue in the drones market worldwide will reach $4.4 billion, according to Statista, a global market intelligence provider. The global market for connected commercial drones is forecast to

grow from $18.6 billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 15 per cent to reach $37.3 billion in 2029, according to a research report.