U.S. Drone Delivery Firm Matternet Cleared to Fly in Saudi Arabia

Matternet founder and CEO Andreas Raptopoulos says the company will bring drone delivery to Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

Monday, January 27, 2025 at 02:11 PM ET

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Matternet and its M2 drone were cleared to fly in Saudi Arabia by the country’s General Authority of Civil Aviation. [Courtesy: Matternet]

Key Takeaways:

Matternet, a drone delivery company, has received approval from Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to begin operating its M2 drone for deliveries in Riyadh.
The M2 drone is uniquely positioned as the only nonmilitary uncrewed aircraft with both FAA type and production certificates, a significant advantage over competitors.
Matternet plans to integrate autonomous drone delivery as a new urban infrastructure layer in Riyadh, utilizing its network of automated landing and charging stations.
This approval signifies the Middle East's growing importance as a hub for investing in and adopting new aviation technologies and urban air mobility solutions.

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A Mountain View, California-based drone delivery company just received the green light to begin flying in Saudi Arabia.

Matternet, developer of the M2 drone, on Monday announced that it was cleared to fly by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). In a news release, Andreas Raptopoulos, founder and CEO of Matternet, said the firm will bring drone delivery to Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.