Dubai Airports is introducing more than 30 autonomous cleaning robots across five key locations as part of a five-year facilities management partnership with UAE-based Farnek.
The deployment spans Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Concourse D, Dubai Cargo Village, and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
Robotic cleaning rollout
The robots are integrated with Farnek’s physical cleaning teams under its Farnek Hybrid Unit (FHU) model. This combination of automation and human teams aims to improve operational efficiency, consistency, and sustainability in airport cleaning and hygiene.
Essa Al Shamsi, Senior Vice President of Terminal Operations at Dubai Airports, said: “The decision was driven by a simple goal – to make our operations smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable. Cleaning robots help us deliver a consistent level of service across the airport while using resources more efficiently. It’s part of how we’re applying technology to improve both the guest experience and the working environment for our teams, in line with Dubai Airports’ smart airport strategy and long-term sustainability goals.”
Operational excellence
Markus Oberlin, Group CEO of Farnek, said: “This is one of the largest robotic cleaning programmes in the Middle East’s aviation sector. It positions Dubai Airports as a global reference for smart FM integration — combining automation, digital platforms, and sustainability under one operational model.”
He added: “The contract renewal marks a new chapter — one built on proven partnership, smarter processes, and a shared drive for continuous improvement. What we’ve achieved together is not just automation; it’s a model for how intelligent FM can operate at scale.”
Following this rollout, Dubai Airports and Farnek plan to explore next-generation robotic models, enhanced AI analytics, and performance-based sustainability metrics. The goal is to create a fully adaptive, data-driven cleaning system that adjusts dynamically to passenger movement and operational demand.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
