Adnoc retail stores speed up checkout

Adnoc Distribution will roll out an artificial intelligence-powered self-checkout system across 50 Oasis by Adnoc convenience stores from the second quarter of 2026, marking a new phase in the company’s push to turn its fuel-station retail network into a digitally enabled mobility and convenience platform.

The agreement with UAE-based DTEK. ai will introduce SWIFT, a computer-vision and machine-learning checkout system designed to recognise products instantly and allow customers to place, pay and leave in under 30 seconds from the start of the checkout process. The initial deployment will begin at selected Oasis by Adnoc locations, with scope for wider expansion across the company’s domestic retail network if the rollout meets operational and customer-experience targets.

The partnership follows pilot tests at selected Oasis stores, where the system was used to assess customer flow, checkout speed and operational consistency during busy periods. The companies say the technology can cut average checkout times by more than 60 per cent, a claim that will be closely watched as service-station retailers across the Gulf increasingly compete on convenience, speed and data-led customer engagement rather than fuel sales alone.

The deployment places Adnoc Distribution among a growing group of retailers using artificial intelligence to remove friction from small-basket purchases. Unlike barcode-based self-checkout systems, SWIFT uses computer vision to identify items placed by the customer, reducing the need for manual scanning. The model is designed for high-traffic convenience retail, where queues can build quickly during commuting hours and at service stations with integrated food, beverage and daily-needs offerings.

Adnoc Distribution, led by Chief Executive Officer Bader Saeed Al Lamki, has been expanding beyond traditional fuel retail into convenience stores, electric-vehicle charging, car services, lubricants and mobility-related services. The company ended 2025 with 1,010 service stations and 536 convenience stores across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, after adding 119 stations during the year. Its longer-term target is to reach 1,150 service stations by 2028 and double non-fuel transactions by 2030 compared with 2023 levels.

That strategy makes checkout automation more than a store-level upgrade. Non-fuel retail has become a key growth lever for fuel-station operators as margins, customer loyalty and transaction frequency increasingly depend on convenience formats. Faster payment systems can support higher throughput, improve basket conversion and reduce pressure on frontline staff, particularly at outlets where food, coffee and daily essentials generate heavy footfall.

DTEK. ai, formerly known as Dukkantek, is a Dubai-headquartered retail-technology company founded in 2021. Its SWIFT platform was launched after the company shifted from conventional point-of-sale solutions towards AI-led checkout and store-efficiency tools. The system has been positioned as a way for retailers to handle small, fast-moving purchases without requiring customers to scan each item individually.

Sanad Yaghi, Chief Executive Officer of DTEK. ai, said the partnership addresses a gap in checkout technology as customer expectations move faster than many store formats. He said SWIFT combines speed, accuracy and a simple user experience to help retailers deliver more human-centred shopping while keeping store operations efficient.

Al Lamki said the collaboration supports Adnoc Distribution’s move towards becoming an AI-native mobility and convenience company. He said the use of UAE-made technology also supports local manufacturing and in-country value, while helping the company improve productivity and profitability across its retail operations.

The agreement comes as retailers worldwide reassess self-checkout after mixed customer experiences in some markets. Traditional self-checkout has often faced criticism over scanning errors, theft risks, long exception-handling times and customer frustration when staff assistance is still required. AI-based systems seek to solve part of that problem by reducing manual input, but they also require strong product-recognition accuracy, clear data-governance safeguards and store designs that support smooth customer movement.

For Adnoc Distribution, the practical test will be whether the system performs consistently across different store layouts, product categories and peak-hour traffic patterns. Convenience stores at fuel stations serve a broad customer base, including commuters, families, delivery drivers and fleet users, making reliability essential. Any broader rollout will depend not only on checkout speed but also on payment integration, loss prevention, staff training and customer acceptance.