In a major step toward advancing autonomous mobility in the Middle East, Space42 and South Korea’s Autonomous A2Z have formed a joint venture to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies across the UAE. The announcement, made ahead of DRIFTx during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025, marks the evolution of the companies’ earlier memorandum of understanding into a full-scale operational partnership driven by the growing demand for scalable and intelligent driverless solutions.
The new venture will focus on expanding access to Level-4 autonomous vehicles, retrofitting existing fleets with autonomous capabilities, and delivering vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies and related services. Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen the UAE’s mobility infrastructure and position the nation as a global leader in next-generation autonomous transportation..
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, said: “Our joint venture is another strategic step in realizing Autonomy 2.0, the UAE’s next phase of intelligent, adaptive, and data-driven mobility. It embodies our vision to establish sovereign autonomy infrastructure built on data, AI, and world-class safety standards. Together, we are enabling technologies that will shape the UAE’s mobility ecosystem and position the nation at the forefront of global mobility innovation.”
Jihyeong Han, CEO of Autonomous A2Z, added: “Autonomous A2Z, South Korea’s leading autonomous driving company that drew global attention with its advanced technology at APEC 2025, is taking a decisive step toward realizing large-scale autonomous mobility in the UAE through this joint venture. Together with Space42, the company aims to build a safe and reliable autonomous driving environment and infrastructure, fostering innovation in the UAE’s autonomous ecosystem and accelerating the nation’s transition to sustainable mobility.”
A cornerstone of the partnership is its “retrofit-first” approach, which enables rapid, cost-effective integration of autonomous systems into existing vehicles. This model allows governments and fleet operators to adopt self-driving technology without large-scale vehicle replacements, paving the way for faster deployment. The venture will target multiple sectors—including public transport, logistics, industrial zones, airports, tourism and municipal services—covering diverse fleet types such as taxis, shuttles, trucks and street-cleaning vehicles.
The joint venture has outlined a clear roadmap that moves from pilot programmes to full commercial rollout. Initial operations will begin with pilot projects and fleet conversions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, supported by five autonomous vehicles. As the initiative scales, Space42 and Autonomous A2Z plan to establish a local workshop and R&D center to support regional manufacturing, testing and innovation.
Aligned with national goals, the partnership will contribute to Dubai’s objective of making 25% of all trips autonomous by 2030 and Abu Dhabi’s equivalent target by 2040. The venture will work closely with organisations such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster to develop regulatory and operational frameworks for safe, widespread deployment.
The collaboration builds on Space42’s core expertise in geospatial intelligence and AI-driven platform services, central to the UAE’s broader vision for connected and autonomous mobility. Through its partnerships with e&, Dynamic Map Platform and General Motors, Space42 continues to advance V2X communication technologies and next-generation mapping systems. Its TXAI robotaxi service has already logged nearly 600,000 km of autonomous driving and 20,000 passenger trips since 2021, operating across key areas such as Saadiyat, Yas, Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands, as well as Abu Dhabi Airport.
Autonomous A2Z, meanwhile, brings deep technological expertise as South Korea’s top autonomous driving company, developing all core components for Level-4 autonomy—including software, sensors, control systems and road infrastructure. Recognised for its leadership at APEC 2025 and ranked 11th in the 2024 Guidehouse Insights Autonomous Driving Leaderboard, the company is also expanding its footprint in Singapore and Japan.
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