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Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered space technology company, said it is developing the country’s first sovereign mobility cloud, enabled by Core42’s Sovereign Public Cloud leveraging Microsoft Azure.
The project, announced at the Dubai World Congress, will provide a sovereign-enabled platform dedicated to smart mobility and autonomous systems, hosting services such as HD mapping, telematics, fleet operations, traffic management and digital twins.
Dr Fan Zhu, senior vice president of autonomous mobility at Space42, said: “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.”
Sherif Tawfik, chief partnership officer – AI & Cloud for Sovereignty at Microsoft, added: “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.”
The Sovereign Mobility Cloud is designed to provide trusted infrastructure for mobility data and autonomous systems, enable secure data-sharing across government, industry and research stakeholders, and support intelligent transport initiatives.
Next steps include establishing reference deployments, regulatory sandboxes and test hubs in collaboration with UAE transport authorities, while engaging automotive, technology and academic partners to scale adoption.
Space42 to lead application deployment
Space42 will lead application deployment, regulatory engagement and adoption through pilots, demonstrations and rollouts. Microsoft and Core42 will provide the sovereign-enabled cloud foundation, AI platforms, and data governance frameworks to ensure regulatory compliance and data residency. Microsoft will also offer training, expertise and co-investment to support ecosystem growth.
The initiative builds on prior collaborations. In July 2025, Space42, Microsoft and Esri launched the Map Africa Initiative to create a continent-wide base map. Space42’s geospatial AI platform, GIQ, is also listed on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.
Space42 has been advancing autonomous mobility in the UAE since 2021 through its TXAI service, which has recorded nearly 600,000 km of autonomous driving and 20,000 passenger trips without incident. The fleet operates across Saadiyat, Yas, Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands, as well as Abu Dhabi Airport.
In addition to robotaxis, the company is developing HD mapping, digital twins and AI-powered fleet operations. Combined with government investment in infrastructure and governance, these efforts are positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub for intelligent transport.
