China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Unmanned aircraft built to carry parcels, medical supplies and freight over short and medium routes. Operated by logistics firms, retailers and humanitarian agencies.
Typical segments
- Parcel delivery drones
- Heavy lift drones
- Medical supply drones
- Unmanned cargo aircraft
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 880623 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.
GCC and Africa
Import value by country group, latest reported year per country, USD million.
Why this market is moving now
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 624% from 2022 to 2025.
- Demand is concentrated: one country took a large share of the region's reported imports.
About the data
Figures are customs import values (CIF, US dollars) that 14 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 880623 (Unmanned aircraft, for remote-controlled flight only, with maximum take-off weight > 7 kg). Each country's latest reported year is used: Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2023, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Bahrain, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Egypt.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
Supplier figures add up the partner breakdown that the largest importing countries reported for their latest year. Partner areas that the reporters did not specify are left out of the list.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 88062300 (Unmanned aircraft, for remote-controlled flight only, with maximum take-off weight > 7 kg), the code used on the EU page for this market. Shares, changes and per-kilogram values are calculated from these figures. No figure on this page is a forecast.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs data from 14 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $17.5 million under HS code 880623 (Unmanned aircraft, for remote-controlled flight only, with maximum take-off weight > 7 kg) in their latest year with data (2025 for 11 countries, 2024 for 1 and 2023 for 2). | 17.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $9.2 million in 2023, or 53% of the total. | 9.2 USD million | 2023 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel followed with $2.9 million in 2025. | 2.9 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 5 GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries with data accounted for $10.2 million, or 58% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 10.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 7 African countries with data accounted for $4.4 million, or 25% of the total. | 4.4 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 81% of its reported imports, with $8.2 million, or 58% of their imports under HS 880623 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 8.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 880623 was $386.68 per kilogram across the 13 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 386.68 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 88062300 (Unmanned aircraft, for remote-controlled flight only, with maximum take-off weight > 7 kg) to the 9 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €1.1 million in 2025. | 1.1 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 88062300 to these countries were up 624% in 2025 compared with 2022 (the first year with data for this code), when they were €147 thousand, calculated from Eurostat values. | +624 % since 2022 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 88062300 in 2025, at €461 thousand. | 461 EUR thousand | 2025 | Eurostat |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
cmdCode=880623 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=9246616; CIV2025=107040; GHA2025=2013629; ISR2025=2927000; JOR2023=15179; KEN2025=35506; KWT2025=109093; MAR2025=1186945; NGA2025=52901; OMN2025=683802; QAT2024=122921; SAU2025=19461; TZA2025=185813; ZAF2025=808337; sum=17514243
- Figure 2
reporterCode 784, period 2023, cmdCode 880623, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 9246616; share of 17514243 = 53%
- Figure 4
cmdCode 880623, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE KWT OMN QAT SAU = 10181894; share 58% (shown as 10.2 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 880623, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV GHA KEN MAR NGA TZA ZAF = 4390170; share 25% (shown as 4.4 USD million)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 880623, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 16705905 / sum of netWgt 43203 kg = 386.68 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 3
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 880623, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 2927000
- Figure 3
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 880623, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 8192835; world 14187245; share 58% (shown as 8.2 USD million)
- Figure 6
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 88062300, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=212373; CI=168649; GH=70000; IL=460538; JO=2000; MA=16995; NG=51643; SA=49837; ZA=32300; sum 1064335 (shown as 1.1 EUR million)
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 88062300, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2022 = 147049; 2025 = 1064335; change +624%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 88062300, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 460538 (shown as 461 EUR thousand)
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Logistics firms
- Retailers
- Health and aid agencies
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 88062300, EUR million.
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the Middle East and Africa market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
- Written to order in 5 working days
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa cargo drone market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $17.5 million under HS code 880623 by 14 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most cargo drone?
The United Arab Emirates was the largest importer, followed by Israel and Ghana.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import cargo drone from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Bulgaria, Hong Kong and the United States.
How do GCC and African imports of cargo drone compare?
The GCC countries with data took $10.2 million, or 58% of the total, and the African countries with data took $4.4 million, or 25%, each in its latest reported year.
How much cargo drone does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 88062300 to the countries covered of €1.1 million in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of cargo drone in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $386.68 per kilogram for HS 880623, across the countries that reported weight.
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