CASE STUDY 1 Blood transport by drones during the Hajj season 1444 AH (June–July 2023) Lead entities: Ministry of Health (MoH), Saudi Post SPL, iot squared and Prince Sultan University Context: Hajj is one of the world’s largest annual mass gatherings, bringing millions of pilgrims to Makkah over a short period. The event places pressure on healthcare logistics, where timely access to medicines and equipment is critical but often constrained by congestion and security protocols. Description: During the Hajj season 1444 AH, SPL, in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Health, iot squared and Prince Sultan University, conducted the first ever proof- of-concept (POC) in Saudi Arabia for transporting blood units using drones at Hajj. This pioneering POC paved the way for future drone-enabled logistics operations in sensitive and high-demand environments across the Kingdom. Temporary hospitals in Mina during Hajj season face significant mobility challenges once pilgrims settle into their accommodation, with medical teams experiencing delays in moving between sites. To address this, drones were deployed to transport blood units and plasma between Mina Emergency Hospital and Mina Al-Share’a Al-Jadeed Hospital. Over two days, 10 trial flights were conducted including both dummy samples and actual prepared blood units. The results demonstrated a dramatic reduction in transport time, from the traditional 2.5–4 hours on the ground to just two minutes by drone. This initiative, the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, supports both the Health Sector Transformation Program and the Pilgrim Experience Program under Vision 2030. It demonstrates how drone technologies can enhance healthcare responsiveness, improve medical logistics and ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims in highly congested and time-sensitive environments. Operations and technology: Rotary-wing drones, predefined mission zones, standardized emergency protocols, integration into controlled pilgrimage airspace, phased approval process. Impact and success factors: 1. Public benefits were clear: faster delivery improved emergency responsiveness. 2. Operations were phased in controlled, high-stakes zones under regulatory oversight including the MoH and GACA. They demonstrated how integrated unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) systems can enable drone ops in complex, high-density environments. 3. The mission demonstrated regulatory flexibility, showing how approvals can adapt to temporary, complex environments. It also involved oversight from multiple agencies. 4. The initiative establishes a repeatable operational template for healthcare logistics in other high-demand events, such as Riyadh Season and upcoming major global events such as the 2029 Asian Winter Games, Riyadh Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. UAV parcel delivery Sources: Ministry of Health, SPL, iot squared and Prince Sultan University Deployment Pathways for Advanced Air Mobility: Lessons from Early Implementation in Saudi Arabia 10

Deployment Pathways Advanced Air Mobility 2025