Space42 Launches UAE's First Sovereign Mobility Cloud To Enhance Autonomous Mobility

In the pursuit of enhancing autonomous mobility, Space42, headquartered in the UAE and listed on the ADX as SPACE42, has embarked on a groundbreaking project. This initiative involves the creation of the UAE's first Sovereign Mobility Cloud, which capitalizes on Core42's Sovereign Public Cloud, powered by Microsoft Azure.

Revealed during the Dubai World Congress, this venture merges Space42's prowess in mobility with Microsoft's comprehensive suite of cloud and logistics applications. The goal is to fast-track the implementation of autonomous mobility solutions while guaranteeing data security and adherence to UAE's stringent regulatory standards.

Dr. Fan Zhu, senior vice president of autonomous mobility at Space42, stated, "The UAE has always led in technological innovation, and autonomous mobility is no exception. By building the nation's first Sovereign Mobility Cloud with Core42 and Microsoft, we are setting a global standard for secure, trusted platforms in mobility and autonomous systems," he stated.

Microsoft's Sherif Tawfik highlighted the importance of data sovereignty in this collaboration. "Microsoft Azure delivers the secure, trusted foundation that empowers the UAE's Sovereign Mobility Cloud. In partnership with G42 we have successfully combined world-class data residency, compliance, and confidential compute capabilities with Insight's sovereign controls platform to ensure mobility and autonomous systems in the UAE are built on a platform that meets the highest standards for security and trust. This partnership sets a new benchmark for data sovereignty in the region," he explained.

The Sovereign Mobility Cloud is designed to serve as a sovereign-enabled platform for intelligent transportation in the UAE, offering a variety of key features and benefits. It provides a trusted infrastructure for processing mobility data and running autonomous systems. Furthermore, it supports critical applications such as HD mapping, telematics, fleet operations, traffic management, and digital twins, besides enabling secure data exchange among government bodies, industry players, and research institutions.

Plans are underway to further develop this initiative by setting up reference deployments, regulatory sandboxes, and test hubs in collaboration with UAE transport authorities. Space42 aims to expand the ecosystem by involving global partners from the automotive, technology, and academic sectors.

This collaborative approach will facilitate application deployment, regulatory liaison, and the promotion of adoption through pilot projects, demonstrations, and commercial launches.

Microsoft and Core42 are tasked with providing a sovereign-enabled cloud foundation, bolstered by AI platforms and data governance and security frameworks, to ensure compliance with UAE's data residency and regulatory requirements. Microsoft has also committed to offering training, technical expertise, and co-investment opportunities to foster ecosystem growth.

This initiative builds upon previous collaborations, including the Map Africa Initiative launched in July 2025 with Microsoft and Esri, aiming to create a comprehensive base map for the continent. Additionally, Space42's geospatial AI platform, GIQ, is also accessible on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, demonstrating the ongoing partnership between these entities.

Space42 has been instrumental in advancing the UAE's mobility ambitions, establishing itself as a pioneer in autonomous mobility. Since 2021, its TXAI service has successfully completed nearly 600,000 km of autonomous driving and facilitated over 20,000 passenger trips without any incidents. The service currently operates across multiple islands in Abu Dhabi as well as the Abu Dhabi Airport.

Beyond robotaxis, Space42 is developing key components of intelligent mobility, such as HD mapping, digital twins, and AI-driven fleet operations, in collaboration with regulatory bodies, investors, and the academic community.

This collaborative effort is transforming Abu Dhabi into a leading hub for intelligent transport, with the UAE providing the vision and policy framework, and Space42 delivering technological and operational expertise. The synergy between strategic vision and technological innovation is creating an ecosystem where AI-enabled transport not only serves national interests but also sets international benchmarks.