• Aims to reduce medical sample delivery times significantly, enhancing diagnostics and patient care in Abu Dhabi
  • Pilot showcased at Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (10–15 November)

Abu Dhabi, UAE – PureLab, operator of the largest network of laboratories in the Middle East, and a subsidiary of PureHealth, alongside LODD Autonomous, a leading developer of advanced air mobility and autonomous aerial systems, are running a pilot project to transport blood samples between medical facilities in Abu Dhabi using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Supported by Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the collaboration was launched with an MoU signing ceremony during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week.

The initiative aims to improve speed, efficiency, accelerate the transport of critical medical samples between SEHA Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) and PureLab’s Abu Dhabi headquarters through LODD’s next-generation UAV technology. This innovative solution enables the safe, reliable, and daily transfer of vital blood samples - reducing diagnostic turnaround times and enhancing the overall speed and efficiency of medical response.

His Excellency Badr Al-Olama, Director General, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), said: “Through the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster, Abu Dhabi is advancing the frontier of autonomous technology through real-world applications that directly improve lives. This pilot marks a defining step in how autonomous systems can strengthen healthcare delivery, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s position as a world-class testbed where the future of mobility is designed and deployed for global impact.”

This project represents a major step forward in integrating autonomous technologies into healthcare logistics, driving performance efficiency, operational sustainability, and service quality across Abu Dhabi’s healthcare ecosystem. It also seeks to minimise environmental impact while strengthening the efficiency and dependability of diagnostic services.

“Every minute saved in transporting blood samples is a minute gained for patients awaiting diagnosis,” said Arindam Haldar, CEO of PureLab. “By integrating drone logistics into our diagnostics network, we’re not just improving delivery times, we’re advancing the entire continuum of care. This pilot reflects our belief that healthcare innovation must serve people faster, smarter, and with greater environmental responsibility. It’s a perfect example of how Abu Dhabi’s vision for automation and sustainability translates into real-world impact.”

Rashid Al Manai, Chief Executive Officer of LODD Autonomous, said: “This pilot project is a real-world demonstration of how autonomous aviation can enhance healthcare logistics through fast, safe, and sustainable medical transport solutions. What we are doing today is not a distant vision, it is a practical step toward improving responsiveness and elevating healthcare service quality in Abu Dhabi.”

The collaboration showcases how government vision and private-sector innovation can converge to deliver transformative solutions. Supported by the ADIO, the project reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a living laboratory for future technologies in healthcare, mobility, and sustainability.

The project falls under the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) Cluster, an initiative of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), designed to accelerate the adoption of intelligent mobility solutions. Insights gathered from these trials will help establish clear standards and regulatory frameworks to enable the future commercial use of medical air transport technologies in the emirate, ensuring both safety and operational efficiency.

This collaboration underscores Abu Dhabi’s position as a global driver of innovation in autonomous aviation and smart healthcare. By uniting precision medicine with precision mobility, PureLab is helping shape a new era of connected, sustainable healthcare — one where Abu Dhabi leads the world in translating futuristic ideas into everyday solutions.

About PureHealth:

PureHealth is the largest healthcare group in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 110+ hospitals, 316+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare as the company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind. By advancing the Science of Longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the United Arab Emirates to the rest of the world. 

PureHealth’s network comprises: 

  • SEHA – One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE 
  • SEHA CLINICS - Delivering comprehensive community-based healthcare services 
  • Daman (The National Insurance Company) – The UAE’s leading health insurer 
  • The Medical Office – Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. The President of the UAE 
  • Rafed – The UAE’s largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organisation 
  • PureLab – Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region   
  • One Health – A network that provides end-to-end medical solutions to a base of over 300 healthcare service providers 
  • The Life Corner – Abu Dhabi’s first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment 
  • Ardent Health Services – The fourth largest privately held acute care hospital operator in the US 
  • Circle Health Group – The largest independent operators of hospitals in the UK  
  • Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG) - the largest private healthcare provider in Greece and Cyprus 
  • PureCS - A leading cloud and technology services provider, specialising in IT management and consulting solutions, cybersecurity, cloud services and AI information systems 
  • Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) – The UAE’s largest healthcare complex, delivering integrated complex care 

To learn more, please visit www.purehealth.ae 

About PureLab:

PureLab, a PureHealth asset, operates and manages the largest network of laboratories in the region; these also include the largest network of ISO Accredited Laboratories currently totalling more than 140 labs across the UAE.  

PureLab, is a comprehensive laboratory operation that supports both the public and private sectors by providing the largest in-house test menu. We leverage economies of scale with our high volume of tests (over 32 million tests conducted per year), and we run an agile operation that ensures accurate, reliable, and timely diagnostics, delivered to our customers.  

It also plays a pivotal role in using its laboratory diagnostics network to conduct public screening programmes and population health management, as well as spearheading COVID-19 screening efforts in the UAE. Bringing unparalleled efficiencies and redefining industry standards, PureLab has proven itself as a partner of choice.  

Media enquiries
PureLab@four.agency

About LODD:

LODD is an autonomous aerospace company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, pioneering the future of cargo transportation. Founded in 2023, LODD designs, develops, and deploys next-generation autonomous systems to tackle the emerging challenges of middle-mile cargo logistics.

At the core of its innovation is Hili, LODD’s flagship UAV, engineered to transport payloads of up to 250 kilograms across distances of 700 kilometres. This breakthrough platform delivers scalable, efficient, and reliable cargo transport solutions for diverse industries.

With a business model rooted in sustainability, scalability, and operational efficiency, LODD is laying the foundation for a robust air mobility ecosystem that will redefine logistics across the UAE and beyond.

For more information, please visit:
www.lodd.com
www.linkedin.com/company/lodd-autonomous
https://www.instagram.com/lodd.autonomous

For media inquiries:
Abdallah Iskandarani
Email: pr@marketingends.com