Space42 and Autonomous A2Z Unite to Revolutionise Driverless Transport in UAE

Editorial Team

Last updated 6-11-2025

3 min

Space42 joins Autonomous A2Z to advance Level 4 driverless vehicles across the UAE.

Their joint venture aims to retrofit existing fleets for a faster autonomous shift.

Initial projects will start between Abu Dhabi and Dubai before scaling operations locally.

The collaboration aligns with Dubai’s and Abu Dhabi's autonomous trip targets by 2030 and 2040.

The venture combines Space42's AI expertise with A2Z’s proven autonomous driving tech.

There’s been a real buzz in the UAE’s smart mobility scene lately, and rightly so. Space42, the Abu Dhabi-based company mixing satellites, AI, and geospatial data, has teamed up with South Korea’s Autonomous A2Z to push the limits of driverless vehicle technology across the Emirates. The two are forming a joint venture aimed squarely at deploying and commercialising fully driverless—or Level 4—mobility solutions.

The announcement dropped just before DRIFTx at Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025, marking a shift from talk to action after their earlier memorandum in October. I reckon it’s a bold move. Rather than merely showing off prototypes, they’re talking about actual rollouts—retrofitting existing fleets with autonomous tech, adding vehicle‑to‑everything connectivity, and designing systems that could make driverless transport both safe and profitable.

Space42’s smart solutions boss, Hasan Al Hosani, described the venture as another stride toward what he calls “Autonomy 2.0,” a data‑driven, intelligent transport model built on AI and home‑grown infrastructure. The aim, he said, is to make the UAE a leading name in autonomous mobility. Quite the ambition, but then again, the country’s never shied away from thinking big.

From the Korean side, Autonomous A2Z’s CEO, Jihyeong Han, sees the deal as a game‑changer too. The company, already known back home for showing off its driverless systems during APEC 2025, wants to build a safe and scalable ecosystem here as well. They’ve got solid credentials—a Level‑4 car called ROii, over 700,000 km of autonomous drives logged in Korea, and work underway in Singapore and Japan. Not too shabby for a startup founded by ex‑Hyundai engineers.

What’s especially interesting is their retrofit‑first model. Instead of waiting years to replace fleets, they’ll add autonomy to existing vehicles—taxis, buses, trucks, even street sweepers. That could make things a bit of a faff initially, but it slashes costs and helps governments and logistics firms dive in faster. The early focus will be pilot projects between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, kicking off with five vehicles before scaling up to local manufacturing and R&D bases.

You know, I was chatting recently with a few founders at an Arageek meetup, and this news came up. The vibe was optimistic but cautious—everyone’s excited about the tech, though still weighing how quickly public trust might catch up. And they’re spot on to wonder: will people really feel ready to let go of the wheel?

The timeline matches both Dubai’s and Abu Dhabi’s official targets—25% autonomous trips by 2030 and 2040 respectively. The venture will also work with ADIO and the SAVI cluster to get the regulatory ducks in a row. That’s no small feat, mind you.

All in all, this feels like a milestone showing how regional ambition meets global expertise. Space42 brings its “view from above,” blending space‑based data with local AI, while A2Z brings the road‑tested autonomy. Together they might just turn what still sounds futuristic into an everyday reality. And I, for one, wouldn’t be too surprized to see those first driverless shuttles gliding quietly through Yas Island sooner than expected.

🚀 Got exciting news to share?

If you're a startup founder, VC, or PR agency with big updates—funding rounds, product launches 📢, or company milestones 🎉 — AraGeek English wants to hear from you!