05 February 2025

The UAE’s skyline is a testament to architectural ambition, with futuristic skyscrapers and designs that seem like they bend the laws of physics. While the buildings look like something out of The Jetsons, maintaining these structures has so far relied on outdated and labor-intensive methods, particularly for exterior façade cleaning.

EXO Drones, a Dubai-based startup, is reshaping this landscape with autonomous drones that complete cleans at a fraction of the time and remove the human element thus increasing safety and reducing errors.

Founded by two close friends with deep ties to the GCC and with backgrounds at US Big-Tech and UAE based companies, EXO Drones is poised to disrupt the $3 billion UAE façade cleaning market while paving the way for a broader transformation in facility management across the Gulf region. EXO Drones vision is to build autonomous pressure washing drones in the UAE and deploy them across the GCC. EXO Drones will set up control rooms in every major city in the GCC that will manage and monitor the façade cleaning operations of all major infrastructure (buildings, airplanes, oil rigs etc.). 

The Early Days of EXO Drones

The idea for EXO Drones stemmed from its founders’ shared passion for technology and their insights from growing up in the Gulf Region and seeing firsthand the challenges inherent in maintaining such large modern infrastructure. Co-founder Ammar Javaid spent years working at Amazon Web Services (AWS) out of New York City and witnessing first-hand the transformative potential of AI. “I saw this immense build-out of AI data center infrastructure to power next-gen applications and although I love chatbots and find great utility in ChatGPT, I think the next frontier for AI will be in robotics…drones, humanoid robots and such. Intelligent robots will be able to impact the real world in a very meaningful way and disrupt industries we take for granted” says Ammar. After throwing around some business ideas with his close friend and now co-founder from Dubai, the idea of using drones to clean buildings came up and made complete sense.

The inspiration was clear: while the Gulf’s iconic structures represent the future, their maintenance methods do not. Cleaning high-rises with ropes, scaffolding, or manual equipment is not only inefficient but also poses significant risks to workers. Recognizing this gap, the founders collaborated to start EXO Drones—a startup dedicated to using drones as scalable, safer, and faster solution for façade cleaning. The name originates from the exosphere, the outmost layer of the atmosphere, a testament to the founding team’s ambition.

A Game-Changing Solution

EXO Drones leverages drone technology to address the unique challenges of façade cleaning in a region where extreme heat, rapid urbanization, and unconventional building designs present logistical hurdles. The startups purpose-built drones are equipped with advanced capabilities, such as:

Safety: The team installed anti-collision sensors such as advanced radar sensors and cameras so the drone never collides with objects.

Efficiency: One drone is capable of cleaning 500-1,000 sqm/hr. of façade, speeding up the cleaning process by at least 5–10 times compared to traditional methods.

Cleaning Solutions: The drones are equipped with multifaceted cleaning agents such as purified water, hot water and coatings at high-pressure to enable the best cleans for all kinds of façade.

As of today, the team bids for annual service contracts with facility managers and deploys drones with pilot on-site. However, the end goal is to deploy autonomous drones that are aware of their surroundings and digitize the entire end-to-end process for facility managers. These Facility Managers will soon be able to schedule and track drone cleaning services through an EXO Drones application, eliminating the need for long lead times and lengthy procurement processes.

To help build on their vision, in early 2025 EXO Drones partnered with VECROS, an Indian-based aerial robotics solution company. VECROS has custom developed Spatial AI software for drones developed by their team of software engineers with deep technical expertise. The AI is powered by GPUs and their solution enables autonomous and beyond visual line of sight flights. Prem Sai, an IIT graduate and founder of VECROS  “Our partnership with EXO Drones marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of aerial robotics. By combining our Spatial AI software with EXO's innovative vision, we are not only enabling autonomous and beyond visual line of sight flights but also redefining how industries approach large-scale infrastructure maintenance. This collaboration showcases the transformative power of AI and robotics in creating safer, smarter, and more efficient solutions for the real world”.

Spatial AI Awareness: Through their partnership with VECROS, EXO Drones will integrate spatial AI technology that will enable drones to map and navigate complex environments autonomously. The plan is to first clean buildings manually and then layer spatial AI into each step of the process until the entire process is autonomous and managed by an in-door control center. This innovation ensures precise cleaning while minimizing human intervention.

Navigating Challenges and Innovating Solutions

Launching an autonomous drone company in a regulated market like Dubai comes with its own set of challenges. The founders worked with and onboarded a regional drone expert, Ahmed Fawzy Soliman, owner of Pro Hobbies as their Chief Technology Officer. This collaboration enabled EXO Drones to develop a purpose-built high-pressure washing drone, supported by a workshop and technical team in Dubai capable of rapid iterations based on project feedback.

Another significant hurdle was regulatory approval. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), known for its rigorous standards, set a high bar for approval. EXO Drones successfully passed all DCAA tests, conducting live demonstrations with EXPO City and Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA). This approval not only validated their technology but also opened doors to partnerships with key stakeholders.

Why EXO Drones Stands Out

In an emerging market with competitors, EXO Drones differentiates itself through:

On-the-Ground Technical Team: The startup operates through the Pro Hobbies workshop in Dubai, allowing for rapid customization and adjustments based on facility manager requirements.

An AI first approach: As the only company in the sector capable of and focused on spatial AI integration through their partnership with VECROS, EXO Drones will enhance drone speed, safety, and efficiency.                 

Expanding Horizons

EXO Drones’ initial focus is on façade cleaning in Dubai, a market ripe for disruption. However, the vision extends far beyond this. Over the next 5 years, the company aims to eliminate the human element in façade cleaning entirely by developing a control room model where autonomous drones can be monitored remotely, achieving near-complete automation.

Future plans include:

Expanding to GCC Countries: After establishing a strong presence in Dubai, EXO Drones will target markets in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Revolutionizing Infrastructure Maintenance: By leveraging AI and autonomous systems, EXO Drones is redefining how critical infrastructure is maintained, making it safer, faster, and more efficient.

Changing the Perception of Drones

Drones often receive negative attention, particularly for their use in surveillance or military contexts. EXO Drones seeks to change that narrative, positioning drones as indispensable tools for improving infrastructure and everyday life. By focusing on practical, impactful applications, the company aims to elevate the role of drones in society.

Why Dubai Is the Perfect Launchpad

The founders of EXO Drones believe that Dubai is uniquely positioned to become a global hub for aerial robotics. Dubai boasts:

• A rich history and pride in aviation through Emirates Airlines.
• Favorable regulations that encourage technological advancements through the facilitation offered by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA).
• A government lead innovation-driven mindset that aligns with EXO Drones’ mission.

The next great aerial robotics company, the founders believe, should come from Dubai—and EXO Drones is committed to leading that charge.

Leading the Autonomous Revolution

EXO Drones displayed its solution at the ‘Future FM’ conference held in Dubai in last 2024 and it was met with excitement and enthusiasm by leaders and experienced professionals in the FM industry. With its cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships, and commitment to innovation, EXO Drones is at the forefront of a revolution in aerial robotics.

From cleaning Dubai’s iconic skyscrapers to redefining how infrastructure is maintained across the GCC, EXO Drones is proving that the sky is no longer the limit—it’s just the beginning.