Abu Dhabi — Space42 has announced the development of the UAE’s first Sovereign Mobility Cloud, built on Core42’s Sovereign Public Cloud and powered by Microsoft Azure, marking a breakthrough in secure, autonomous mobility infrastructure for the country. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the Dubai World Congress (DWC).
The initiative combines Space42’s expertise in mobility with Microsoft’s cloud and logistics application suite, aiming to accelerate the deployment of autonomous mobility solutions while ensuring data residency within the UAE under national regulations.
According to Dr. Fan Zhu, SVP of Autonomous Mobility at Space42, the project sets a new global standard: “By building the nation’s first Sovereign Mobility Cloud with Core42 and Microsoft, we are setting a global benchmark for secure, trusted platforms in mobility and autonomous systems.”
Sherif Tawfik, Microsoft’s Chief Partnership Officer – AI & Cloud for Sovereignty, added: “This partnership delivers the secure, compliant foundation for the UAE’s mobility ecosystem, combining world-class data residency and confidential compute with sovereign controls to ensure the highest levels of trust.”
Key Capabilities of the Sovereign Mobility Cloud
- Trusted Infrastructure: Secure platforms for autonomous systems and mobility data.
- Critical Mobility Tools: HD mapping, telematics, fleet operations, traffic management, and digital twins.
- Data Sovereignty: Ensures data is hosted locally with sovereign controls for compliance and governance.
- Cross-Sector Integration: Secure data-sharing among government, industry, and research partners.
The next phase will establish regulatory sandboxes, reference deployments, and test hubs with UAE transport authorities, while engaging global technology and automotive leaders to expand the ecosystem.
The Sovereign Mobility Cloud builds on Space42’s track record in autonomous mobility. Since 2021, its TXAI autonomous fleet has logged nearly 600,000 km of safe driving and more than 20,000 passenger trips across Abu Dhabi. The company is also advancing geospatial AI through its GIQ platform and expanding partnerships like the Map Africa Initiative, launched with Microsoft and Esri in July 2025.
By combining local infrastructure with global expertise, the Sovereign Mobility Cloud positions the UAE as a regional leader in intelligent transport, supporting its ambitions to be a global hub for innovation under its digital and mobility transformation agenda.
