26-05-2025
Majid Al Futtaim Tests Retail Robots with DFF
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Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has announced a strategic partnership with Majid Al Futtaim. The collaboration explores the future of robotics in retail.
This marks a first-of-its-kind trial, bringing robotics out of the lab and into real-world shopping environments. The live pilot is being conducted at City Centre Mirdif.
Two avatar-style robots are currently assisting shoppers with navigation inside the mall.
The initiative aims to understand how robotics can improve everyday experiences in shopping malls, hotels, and entertainment venues. It focuses on making these spaces more intuitive, connected, and human-centered.
Khalifa Al Qama, Executive Director of Dubai Future Labs, revealed that the project falls under the Dubai Robotics and Automation Programme.
This programme was launched to support the development and adoption of advanced technologies in Dubai's key sectors.
By testing robotics in high-traffic areas, Dubai is reinforcing its global position as a future-ready city.
Majid Al Futtaim reported that this pilot aligns with its long-term vision for enhancing customer experience using AI and new technologies.
The focus is on responsible innovation, guided by real-time feedback and live interactions. The trial aims to deliver practical applications of robotics in retail operations.
Key goals include: Improving wayfinding and accessibility
Enhancing service efficiency and response time
Fuad Mansoor Sharaf, Managing Director of Majid Al Futtaim Shopping Malls in the UAE, expressed pride in the initiative. He stated that City Centre Mirdif is leading retail innovation through this unique pilot.
He emphasized that this is just the beginning of a larger journey to develop people-first, AI-powered solutions across the group's assets.
The pilot is also part of a broader research initiative with Osaka University. It is supported by Japan's Moonshot Research and Development Programme through the Japan Science and Technology Agency.
The programme aims to build an 'Avatar-Symbiotic Society' by 2050. This vision includes enabling people to overcome physical and spatial limits using robotics.
Meanwhile, DFF and Majid Al Futtaim are also studying the legal, ethical, and social implications of the technology.
They are committed to ensuring that innovation aligns with community needs and values.
By integrating robotics into public life, the partners aim to make advanced technology more accessible and trusted.
