Tokyo, July 24, 2025 – Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Inspection & Technical Testing Company (hereinafter “FAHSS”), a leading Saudi Arabian company specializing in inspection services for plant and infrastructure facilities. The MoU aims to promote the implementation of drone technology in industrial inspection across the Kingdom. It was concluded through Terra Drone’s local subsidiary, Terra Drone Arabia, as part of a strategic partnership with FAHSS, which boasts extensive experience and a trusted track record in the region. Through this collaboration, Terra Drone seeks to further accelerate the adoption of drone-based inspection solutions in Saudi Arabia’s expanding inspection market.
Background and Purpose of the MoU
Saudi Arabia boasts one of the world’s largest markets for inspection services, driven by its active oil and gas, petrochemical, and energy industries (1). Under its national development plan “Saudi Vision 2030” (2), the government is actively promoting the modernization of society through the adoption of advanced technologies, including the use of drones.
In particular, there is growing demand for drone-based inspections of plant and infrastructure facilities, which offer benefits in terms of labor savings, improved efficiency, and enhanced safety. However, the full-scale implementation of such technologies remains limited due to a shortage of certified drone pilots and qualified inspection professionals.
FAHSS is a Saudi-based company specializing in inspection, certification, training, and auditing for plant and infrastructure assets, with deep expertise in the field. As the Saudi affiliate of Germany’s TÜV NORD Group, a globally recognized third-party certification and inspection organization, FAHSS plays a central role in the technical inspection and certification sector across the Gulf region (3).
This MoU represents a foundational step toward the practical implementation of drone-based inspection services in Saudi Arabia. It brings together Terra Drone Arabia, which has been providing local drone solutions, with FAHSS, a company with strong connections to asset owners in the plant and infrastructure sectors.
Details of the MoU
Terra Drone will collaborate with FAHSS to promote the use of drone-based inspection technologies in the following areas:
Target Assets:
- Indoor plant facilities such as storage tanks and boilers
- Elevated infrastructure such as flare stacks and transmission towers
Inspection Methods:
- Visual inspections using drones
- Ultrasonic testing measurements using drones
- Thermal imaging using drones
Terra Drone Arabia has been leveraging the drone solutions developed by the Terra Drone Group to conduct inspections of plant and infrastructure facilities across Saudi Arabia. Moving forward, the company will work to promote the implementation of drone-based inspections in the region by combining its local operational expertise with FAHSS’s technical knowledge and extensive industry network.
Saleh H. Al Suwaiti, CEO of FAHSS commented: This MoU with Terra Drone Arabia will allow us to explore how drone-based inspection solutions can enhance our inspection, testing, and certification tasks across multiple industries. With Terra Drone’s expertise in this domain, we are confident this collaboration will establish new benchmarks and industry best practices.
Future Outlook
Through this MoU, Terra Drone Arabia’s advanced drone technologies will be combined with FAHSS’s expertise in inspection services to accelerate the social implementation of drone-based inspection operations. The collaboration aims to:
- Promote the adoption and regulatory development of drone inspection technologies in Saudi Arabia
- Launch joint drone inspection services by December 2025
- Contribute to the development of technical talent and promote labor-saving and efficiency improvements in line with “Saudi Vision 2030”
IIn April 2025, Terra Drone signed an MoU with Aramco (4), a leading integrated energy and chemicals company in Saudi Arabia, to expand the local drone market. As part of this initiative, the company also signed an MoU with ITQAN Institute (5), a national human resources development agency, to initiate a drone inspection training program, further driving the adoption of drone technologies in infrastructure inspection.
Moving forward, Terra Drone will continue working with FAHSS to promote the use of drone-based inspection services, develop local human capital, and expand its presence across key industrial sectors in Saudi Arabia, including oil and gas, petrochemicals, and energy. Furthermore, the partnership aims to establish drone-based inspections as a recognized and approved industry standard across the Middle East region.
The impact of this project on Terra Drone’s consolidated financial results for the FY2025 is expected to be minimal. Should any matters requiring disclosure arise in the future, an announcement will be made without delay.
Editor’s Notes
1 “Basic Data on Saudi Arabia” by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area/saudi/data.html
2 Saudi Vision2030: https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en
3 Gulf Region: The Gulf region refers to six countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.
4 Related press release: https://terra-drone.net/global/2025/04/03/terra-drone-signs-mou-with-aramco-to-drive-innovation-and-localization-in-drone-technology/
5 Related press release: https://terra-drone.net/global/2025/05/14/terra-drone-signs-mou-with-itqan-institute-a-saudi-national-human-capital-development-organization/
National Inspection & Technical Testing Company (FAHSS)
FAHSS, established in 1986, is a Saudi Arabia-based company that has been engaged in inspection, certification, technical training, and auditing for plant and infrastructure facilities for nearly 35 years. The company is an affiliate of TASNEE, a major industrial group in Saudi Arabia, and also a member of TÜV NORD Group, a leading German third-party certification and inspection organization. As a key player in the technical inspection and certification sector in the Gulf region, FAHSS has a strong track record across a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, energy, chemicals, and heavy industries. For more information, please visit our website: https://www.fahss.com.sa/
About Terra Drone Corporation
Terra Drone Corporation, headquartered in Japan, is a global leader in drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions. Dedicated to the mission of “Unlock ‘X’ Dimensions”, the company is committed to creating a prosperous future by “crossing” bridges—integrating diverse fields to foster innovation and find solutions. Specializing in surveying, inspections, agriculture, and UAS Traffic Management (UTM), Terra Drone serves industries such as oil and gas, construction, chemicals, energy, and agriculture.
With a portfolio of over 3,000 completed projects worldwide, Terra Drone has achieved significant milestones in the drone operations field. In July 2023, the company acquired a majority stake in Unifly, a world-leading provider of UTM platform, with deployments in over eight countries, followed by an investment in U.S.-based Aloft Technologies in February 2024, further expanding its capabilities in UTM.Terra Drone was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Stock Code: 278A) on November 29, 2024. It also secured top spot in Global Drone Service Provider Rankings for 2024.
Recognized by Drone Industry Insights as one of the top three industrial drone service providers globally for five consecutive years, Terra Drone aims to build the digital infrastructure necessary to unlock the full potential of drones and AAM solutions. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.terra-drone.net
About Terra Drone Arabia
Terra Drone Arabia is a premier provider of drone and geospatial solutions across the Middle East and Africa. With a mission to empower businesses through cutting-edge technology, Terra Drone Arabia offers services in land surveying, bathymetry, and data processing, among others. As part of the globally recognized Terra Drone Corporation, Terra Drone Arabia leverages international expertise to deliver innovative solutions tailored to diverse industries. Its expansion into the Saudi market reflects Terra Drone’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. For more information, please visit https://terra-drone.com.sa/
Media Contact
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Tel: +81-3-6419-7193
Email: pr@terra-drone.co.jp
