Uber announced a partnership and strategic investment in drone delivery company Zipline to enable drone deliveries on its Uber Eats platform by the end of 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The service will launch initially in Zipline’s existing U.S. markets, which include Dallas-Fort Worth and Pea Ridge, Arkansas, among surrounding areas [2, 3].

Zipline has a track record of more than 2 million deliveries worldwide, including medical supplies and food in countries like Rwanda, Ghana, Japan, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya [2, 3]. While sources differ slightly, the count ranges from 2 million to over 2.7 million total deliveries [2, 3]. Uber’s deliveries using Zipline drones are expected to fulfill orders within 5 to 10 minutes, according to company statements [1].

The two companies have set an ambitious goal to reach one million daily drone deliveries on Uber Eats by the end of 2029 [1, 2, 3]. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said, "Truly quick commerce is proving to be an even bigger market than the original food market was. We think this can be an enormous tailwind for the next leg of growth for Eats" [1]. Zipline co-founder Keller Cliffton added that the partnership marks "the next step toward building a world where getting goods anytime and anywhere is seamless" [1].

Uber made an undisclosed strategic investment into Zipline, which recently raised $800 million in a Series H funding round valuing the company at $7.6 billion [1]. This focuses Uber’s growth on partnerships and investments, after selling its own autonomous vehicle and aerial ride-sharing businesses [1]. Uber has invested over $10 billion in autonomous vehicle and drone technology providers across multiple companies [1].

Drone delivery regulations have recently eased in the U.S., allowing companies like Uber and its rivals DoorDash and Wing to expand their drone delivery networks in major cities including metro Atlanta [2, 3]. Zipline began drone delivery operations in Texas, including Dallas-Fort Worth, in 2025 [2].

Uber is building a hybrid delivery system that combines human couriers, sidewalk robots, and drones to improve overall efficiency [2]. Competitors are similarly scaling drone services in U.S. markets to meet rising demand for quick commerce solutions [3].

Zipline drone deliveries for Uber Eats are scheduled to start by late 2026 in the designated U.S. markets, with the companies aiming to scale to one million daily drone orders by the close of 2029 [1, 2, 3].