After being largely restricted to sci-fi fantasies just a couple of decades back, robots are quickly becoming increasingly involved in everyday life. Countries including UAE and its neighbours have been able to welcome these smart droids into public spaces, hospitals and even households, thanks to a thriving digital infrastructure paired with a zeal to adopt innovative tech.

Saudi Arabia had become the first country to identify a robot as the kingdom's citizen years back, and the pandemic saw rise of the machines as caregivers, companions for families and waiters in gulf countries. In a connected world where people are warming up to robots as assistants for everyday tasks, a firm in the UAE has introduced the country to its first robo-cleaner.

The android called LeoMop can efficiently run cleaning ops for 17 hours every day, and offers environment friendly services in addition to hygiene. Equipped with tech to dry floors after mopping them, the AI-driven device cuts down water usage by 70%, hence ensuring sustainable functioning.

Empowered by machine learning to assign tasks to itself, the robotic cleaner also has sensors to avoid running into obstacles, and can adjust its speed according to the surroundings. But that's not all, the most silent product in its class also has expressive eyes and its own voice along with emotional intelligence to support those features.

Working as an assistant for cleaning pros, the android can also engage in conversations with humans, and also has capabilities to double up as an entertainer.

As for crews using LeoMop to clear the clutter at work thanks to AI, they can also track its performance with data from cloud services which are accessible through smartphones. They can also gain an edge with predictive analysis to schedule cleaning operations for their robo-assistant.

So far robots have been used in the region to sanitise airports, and are currently sterilising the grand mosque in Saudi Arabia, where they'll also be distributing holy Zamzam water. On the other hand humanoids with emotional intelligence are being marketed as companions for children and the elderly in the Emirates.