7 days ago
Inside UAE's first commercial factory for drones that can feed fish, detect palm tree diseases
From feeding fish off Abu Dhabi's coast to potentially delivering vegetables between islands in the Maldives, a Dubai-based manufacturer is quietly building some of the world's most versatile drones — entirely in the UAE.
Inside EANAN's spotless factory at Dubai South, rows of engineers and technicians work with the precision of watchmakers, assembling drones that can plant seeds on mountainsides, soon replace donkeys for mountain deliveries in India, detect methane leaks in gas pipelines, and even identify disease in palm trees from the air.
'We are the first factory to manufacture drones for commercial purposes in the UAE,' said Mishaal Al Marzooqi, Director of Business Development. 'Eighty-five per cent of our drone components are produced here. The rest, such as autopilot systems, we currently source internationally, but our goal is full production in the UAE.'
Drones on land, water and air
One of EANAN's flagship models, the Ghaith Feeder Seeder Drone, was built to automate both fish feeding and agricultural seeding missions, even over mountainous peaks. On Dalma Island, fish farming has long depended on boats — a process that burns fuel, takes manpower, and is slowed by strong sea currents.
EANAN's drone can feed the fish with pinpoint accuracy, carrying up to 600kg of feed per day, three times a week. In Khor Fakkan, the same platform is being prepared for aerial seeding, allowing vegetation to be planted in rugged, inaccessible mountain terrain. 'We have flown all the drones and done the tests,' said Al Marzooqi. 'Even for the fish cages, we built an actual cage to try it. We are just waiting for permits from the General Civil Aviation Authority, and expect them very soon.'
From donkeys to drones
EANAN is already in talks for exporting to international markets. In India, the company has plans to replace traditional animal-based delivery in remote mountains with drones capable of carrying 40kg payloads safely to villages.
The Khattaf, a modular last-mile delivery drone, will soon also be tested in the Maldives, transporting fresh produce between islands. 'We're going there in September,' Al Marzooqi said. 'It's a faster, more sustainable solution for delivery in challenging terrains.'
Heavy lifters made in the UAE
The company's heavy-lift models include the 700kg Sa'faar, capable of carrying 200 kilograms, and the foldable-arm Rikaz, which can lift 50 to 200kg.
Sa'faar is undergoing an upgrade to replace its 223kg battery system with a turbo generator, aiming to extend flight time from 15 minutes to an hour — an advancement EANAN plans to showcase at the Dubai Airshow in November. 'What makes us proud — and makes the UAE proud — is that this is built here,' Al Marzooqi added.
Beyond logistics, EANAN has developed drones for environmental and industrial monitoring. The OptoSky platform uses a high-spectral camera to assess plant health and detect diseases such as palm tree blight before they spread — potentially protecting the UAE's four million palm trees.
'You can measure the temperature of the palm,' explained Al Marzooqi. 'If it's low, it means it has this disease, so you can detect it early.' The Sky VTOL methane detector is designed for the oil and gas industry, flying over pipelines to pinpoint leaks through thermal imaging.
A factory of precision
In EANAN's wire harness section, every cable is designed, labelled, and organised before being fitted into a drone. 'Even a simple thing like wiring needs a lot of work,' said Al Marzooqi. 'We test for accuracy, speed, and technical ability. Every kilogram matters in flight.'
The factory also designs and assembles its own batteries, 3D-prints components, shapes landing gear tubes with bending machines, and paints drones in-house. 'We're creating solutions for things that don't [yet] exist,' he said.
For Al Marzooqi, drones are more than a job. A mechatronics engineer, he spent 15 years in the water and power sector before turning his passion for unmanned aerial systems into a career.
In 2014, he built his own medical delivery drone for the UAE's Drones for Good Award. 'When I heard there was a drone factory, I knew I had to join,' he said. He later earned master's degrees in entrepreneurial leadership and innovation and change management, steering him toward the aviation industry.
Looking ahead: Air taxis and space
EANAN is also exploring future mobility. In partnership with a US aerospace firm, the company is co-developing a bladeless vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, with models planned for logistics and air taxi use. Another long-term project is a hydrogen-powered detonation engine aimed at launching micro-satellites into orbit from drones. 'Today, we're focused on proving ourselves with heavy-lift drones. Then we can go to air taxis,' Al Marzooqi explained.
EANAN has signed agreements with Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Air Navigation Services, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Dubai University, and has been recognised by the Ministry of Economy as one of the UAE's top future companies.
'In five years, we envision this factory as the beating heart of drone innovation in the GCC,' said Al Marzooqi. 'Our dream is not just to manufacture drones, but to inspire a new generation of innovators and position our country as a global leader in the drone industry.'
