Qatari technology firm Snoonu is set to launch the commercial deployment of fully autonomous delivery robots in Qatar between late 2026 and early 2027. The company aims to integrate physical artificial intelligence (AI) over the next three years to adapt to the region’s unique climate and infrastructure challenges, as reported by Gulf Times.
Abdulaziz al-Qahtani, general manager of S Cloud & Robotics at Snoonu, stated that the company is collaborating with partners to achieve fully autonomous operations. He noted that the typical timeline for integrating such advanced AI solutions globally is around 36 to 40 months, indicating that Snoonu expects to reach full operational maturity within this timeframe.
Speaking at the Autonomous e-Mobility (AEMOB) Forum in Doha, al-Qahtani highlighted the goal of deploying AI solutions that can dynamically learn from their environment. He emphasized the importance of this forum for Snoonu, as it aligns with their objective of launching physical AI delivery robots capable of adapting to operational conditions.
Al-Qahtani pointed out that many off-the-shelf global autonomous solutions encounter operational difficulties in Qatar due to extreme weather conditions. Therefore, he stressed the necessity of developing locally tailored software and assembling internal hardware to ensure long-term reliability.
This initiative is part of Snoonu’s broader collaboration with the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council, which aims to create locally built physical AI solutions. This effort supports Qatar National Vision 2030 and lays the groundwork for future expansion into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the wider Middle East.
According to al-Qahtani, the AI delivery robots are designed to enhance efficiency and reduce carbon footprints, contributing to the sustainability objectives outlined in the national vision. He described the project as a strategic foundation for refining and optimizing autonomous delivery solutions in Qatar.
Looking ahead, al-Qahtani expressed ambitious plans to scale this technology throughout the GCC and the wider Middle East, aiming to revolutionize urban goods transportation while promoting a greener future for the region.
Snoonu operates a multi-service app with 26 live offerings and intends to gradually transition parts of its logistics network towards autonomous ground units and drones. Bryan Soh, product manager for Robotics at Snoonu, mentioned that the delivery drone project is currently in the technical simulation phase, assessing software performance under regional weather conditions before moving to physical testing.
Soh explained that advancing to physical testing will require careful consideration of hardware parameters, including battery specifications, payload capacity, and operational flight duration for aerial components.
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