Formulating the Strategic Drone Integration Framework (SDIF) for Autonomous Drone Deployment in the UAE Oil and Gas Sector: A Conceptual Paper

Abstract

Autonomous drone technology is increasingly used in the oil and gas sector for inspection, monitoring, methane detection, emergency response, and environmental surveillance. However, many drone initiatives remain limited to pilot projects or isolated operational applications because drone-generated data are not fully integrated into enterprise systems, operational workflows, and strategic decision-making processes. This creates an integration chasm between drone adoption and digital transformation value. This conceptual paper formulates the Strategic Drone Integration Framework (SDIF) for autonomous drone deployment in the UAE oil and gas sector. The framework proposes that Technical Integration Factors, Organizational Enablers, and External Enablers contribute to Drone Integration Maturity, which subsequently enhances Digital Transformation Performance. The paper also discusses the applicability of the SDIF in strategic planning, technical integration, organizational readiness, regulatory alignment, and sustainability performance. The proposed framework contributes to the literature by offering a conceptual model that explains how autonomous drones can move from isolated technological adoption to strategic integration. Future research should empirically validate the SDIF using quantitative methods such as PLS-SEM.