Self-driving delivery robots operating at Roshn Front in Saudi Arabia in partnership with Jahez are reducing delivery times by 50% and enhancing user experience within the development, Director General of Digital Strategy Yazeed Al-Ghamdi told Al Eqtisadiah on August 1.

Al-Ghamdi said the first trial was launched last year in the Sidra community, where 79 successful deliveries were completed for residents, whilst since the latest activation in the business district of Roshn Front, more than 50 deliveries have been completed within days.

Jahez announced a strategic partnership with Roshn through the ROSHNEXT innovation programme to launch autonomous delivery services using self-driving vehicles within Roshn Front's business district, providing smart access to food services from nearby restaurants.

The Digital Strategy Director noted that this smart service provides a modern solution aligned with the evolving lifestyle within Roshn projects and across Saudi Arabia, reflecting the group's direction to adopt the latest innovations to improve daily experience for residents and visitors.

Al-Ghamdi explained this launch represents the first autonomous food delivery service in Saudi Arabia, achieved through the ROSHNEXT innovation programme by operating five self-driving robots developed by the emerging technologies team in collaboration with Jahez.

The robots operate using advanced technologies with 20 sensors and six cameras to ensure safe and accurate navigation, equipped with GPS technology and cooling systems designed for Saudi Arabia's climate conditions.

Regarding environmental benefits, Al-Ghamdi confirmed that electric robots operate within the green mobility system, contributing to reduced carbon emissions, decreased dependence on traditional vehicles, reduced traffic congestion, and improved air quality within urban projects.

According to estimates, each robot can reduce up to 1.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, supporting Saudi Arabia's environmental goals under Vision 2030.