Space42, the UAE-based global AI-powered SpaceTech company, part of technology group G42, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft and Esri to deliver high-resolution, scalable base maps across all 54 African countries, serving over 1.4bn people. Known as the “Map Africa Initiative,” the project will create the most comprehensive base map of the continent to date, addressing challenges in infrastructure, investment, and institutional gaps.
The updated mapping system will catalyse economic development through increased access to intelligent solutions that support governments, businesses and communities. The five-year collaboration aims to strengthen geospatial capabilities across Africa and the UAE, and provide precise and accessible data to national and regional stakeholders. The MoU was signed at Esri’s 2025 User Conference.
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, said: “Partnership is core to the UAE’s DNA, and is central to how Space42 operates. This collaboration with Microsoft and Esri is more than technical; it’s strategic. It advances Space42’s business priorities, strengthens our role as a trusted partner to governments, and delivers meaningful benefits to communities across Africa. Accurate, high-quality mapping and the intelligence solutions built on it are essential for growth, resilience, and inclusive innovation. With reliable data, communities and economies prosper.”
Jack Dangermond, President of Esri, added: “We are proud to support the Map Africa Initiative in partnership with Space42. Transforming satellite imagery into detailed, accurate base maps at continental scale requires advanced geospatial technology and professional production workflows. These same capabilities have supported similar national and regional mapping efforts around the world. With Map Africa, we are helping to establish a foundational resource that will drive infrastructure planning, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent.”
Africa’s maps are fragmented, outdated, or inaccessible, leaving governments and businesses to make major decisions with inaccurate and incomplete data. The Map Africa Initiative seeks to change that by producing continent-wide geospatial data that is accurate, timely, and locally managed.
The process itself is collaborative from start to finish, bringing together the complementary strengths of each organisation. Space42 will lead fundraising efforts and project management, in addition to providing satellite data through sovereign capacities and commercial partners. It will process data using AI-powered Digital Twin models to produce dynamic, use-specific outputs and lead the Research & Development roadmap for new AI models and automation of map production workflows.
Esri will orchestrate base map production workflows with its GeoAI and remote sensing capabilities, while also supporting regional hubs to train local teams and build long-term capacity. Microsoft will provide the secure cloud infrastructure and AI framework through Azure to support data processing, sharing, and integration at scale.
The initiative is expected to generate long-term value across several key industries in Africa. In ports and logistics, detailed terrain and infrastructure mapping will enhance route planning, minimise inefficiencies and support the continent’s development as a global logistics hub. In the renewable energy sector, advanced site selection models will enable more effective deployment of solar and wind projects, boosting both efficiency and returns on investment. For security and disaster response, governments will gain improved capabilities to monitor borders, track natural resources and coordinate emergency interventions. Meanwhile, accurate mapping will serve as a critical foundation for the growth of smart cities and digital economies, aiding urban planning, enhancing public services, and facilitating broader technology adoption.
The data will be licensed to national governments, enabling ownership and long-term updating by National Mapping Agencies. Over time, the initiative will also support a new commercial ecosystem of African startups. The data will eventually be housed in G42 and Microsoft-managed data centers across the continent.
For Space42, the initiative represents more than a single project. It deepens long-standing partnerships with Microsoft and Esri, expands Space42’s presence in Africa, and opens new commercial opportunities in analytics, licensing and infrastructure support.
Peng Xiao, Group Chief Executive Officer at G42, commented: “We believe intelligence is the foundation for societal progress, yet it remains out of reach for millions across the Global South. This partnership is a decisive step toward closing that gap. Together with our partners, we will deliver AI-powered insights that enable African nations to plan smarter, build better, and grow more sustainably and responsibly. From agricultural optimization and natural resource management to strengthening public services infrastructure and economic empowerment, this partnership will help turn data into development, and intelligence into impact.
“G42’s partnership with Microsoft represents a shared commitment to harnessing AI as a global force for good. Together, we are building the infrastructure and applications that will extend the benefits of intelligence to communities across the world, transforming lives through technology that is trusted, responsible, and inclusive.”
The UAE is Africa’s largest foreign investor, with $44bn in capital deployed in 2024 alone, nearly matching the combined investments of the UK and China. As the UAE’s national space champion, Space42 advances this agenda by exporting AI and geospatial capabilities that enable data-driven development.
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