Dubai’s last-mile revolution: scaling electric delivery for a growing city

Dubai’s appetite for doorstep delivery shows little sign of slowing. The city now has 2,948 delivery companies, about 18% more than a year ago, while previous figures from the Roads and Transport Authority put the number of delivery bikes across the emirate at 46,600.

The next question is how many of those journeys can shift to electric bikes. Dubai began testing e-bike deliveries in four areas in February and added seven more in July, bringing the total to 11. The covered districts include Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Media City, Al Qusais 1 and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard.

The expansion forms part of Dubai’s Commercial and Logistics Land Transport Strategy 2030 and its First and Last-Mile Strategy. The stated goals are to make deliveries more sustainable, lower costs, and improve safety and efficiency. When selecting areas, the RTA considered cycling infrastructure, proximity to restaurants and shops, commercial demand, and the character of each neighbourhood.

Running an electric fleet throughout the day brings its own challenges. Batteries must be charged or swapped without keeping riders off the road for long. Delivery distances, road access and the concentration of orders also affect whether the model works. The RTA has begun developing charging and battery-swapping facilities, while 40 air-conditioned rest areas now serve delivery riders across Dubai.

Operators say a broader vehicle mix will be necessary. Constantin Kodsi, talabat’s director of logistics for the UAE, said, “Dubai’s last-mile network cannot keep scaling on one type of vehicle alone, it needs a fleet that matches the trip, from EVs to autonomous vehicles.” Talabat has installed battery-swapping stations in high-demand areas with government partners. It also launched an autonomous delivery pilot with the RTA in 2023, using its talabots in high-density areas, and continues to examine how robotics might reduce everyday delivery delays.

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Dubai’s last-mile network cannot keep scaling on one type of vehicle alone, it needs a fleet that matches the trip, from EVs to autonomous vehicles.