Automotive brand OMODA & JAECOO deployed a multilingual humanoid robot and a quadruped unit at an undisclosed international sporting event in the UAE in June 2026. This trial signals a strategic pivot for the Chery International subsidiary, testing whether emerging AI for Hospitality & Events can solve genuine multilingual staffing challenges in Dubai's venues.
The robots on the ground
The humanoid robot, named Mornine, fielded questions in Arabic, English, and Mandarin within a single five-minute stretch. Her 11-language capability addresses a core operational reality in the UAE, where tourist and workforce populations span dozens of nationalities. Advanced speech recognition allows the system to switch languages mid-conversation, while multimodal interaction tools combine voice, gesture, and facial recognition to anticipate visitor needs.
Alongside Mornine, a four-legged quadruped unit named Argos demonstrated autonomous movement through dense crowds. Event organisers noted its real-time obstacle avoidance and material-carrying capabilities as practical solutions for Dubai's sprawling exhibition halls and outdoor festival spaces.
Beyond the showroom floor
This deployment marks a calculated shift beyond dealership floors. "Artificial intelligence, robotics, and intelligent mobility technologies represent the recent future of connected living," said Shawn Xu, CEO of OMODA & JAECOO Automobile International. "The UAE's strong focus on smart cities, innovation, and advanced technologies makes it an important market for these intelligent ecosystems."
The company is also preparing to introduce VPD, or Valet Parking Driver, to select UAE vehicle models in the coming months. This system allows cars to search for parking spaces independently, manoeuvre, and return to drivers via remote command. The brand is positioning itself as a provider of broader automated experiences, testing how these systems might integrate with existing AI for Customer Support workflows in high-traffic venues.
Unanswered questions on scale and utility
Despite the successful trial, critical details remain undisclosed. The company has not confirmed pricing, the total number of AiMOGA units currently operating in UAE venues, or which hotels have committed to deployments beyond the initial event.
Dubai's government has committed billions to smart city initiatives, and several five-star hotels already deploy service robots for room delivery. However, none currently offer the linguistic range or interaction sophistication claimed for Mornine. Robots that genuinely deliver on autonomous operation could address persistent front-of-house labour shortages, while those that fail to meet expectations risk becoming expensive novelties.
Why this matters for hospitality and events professionals
The arrival of multilingual, autonomous assistants in UAE venues is no longer a theoretical concept. Event managers and hotel operators should begin evaluating how these systems might handle peak-load periods, such as simultaneous check-ins or crowded exhibition floors. The focus must shift from evaluating technological novelty to verifying whether these tools can reliably resolve specific operational bottlenecks when the venue fills and questions arrive in languages the algorithms have not yet mastered.
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