11/08/2026 04:30 AST
Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, and Autonomous A2Z (A2Z), South Korea's leading autonomous driving company, have signed a commercial agreement valued at $7 million to deploy Level-4 mobility solutions in the UAE.
This is the first commercial agreement in the two companies' broader partnership. It is a direct supply contract, separate from the joint venture announced in 2025 to support the long-term commercialization of intelligent mobility solutions in the UAE, said a statement.
The agreement combines A2Z's proven Level-4 autonomous driving technology with Space42's AI, geospatial, and connectivity capabilities.
Pilot Robo-Shuttle services using A2Z's 'ROii', alongside other modified and retrofitted autonomous vehicles, will undergo operational testing and demand assessment, followed by an expected expansion into Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) and tourism shuttle operations.
The phased rollout will provide invaluable road-based operational insights, to support future growth across additional transport use cases.
For A2Z, the milestone represents a significant step in its international expansion strategy, bringing Korean-developed autonomous driving technology to one of the world's fastest-growing smart mobility markets. For Space42, it advances the company's sectorial priority to enable safe and reliable driverless vehicle operations at scale.
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, said: "Autonomous mobility is critical infrastructure for smart city development. The UAE has created the conditions for its integration within everyday transport, and our focus is to turn that ambition into a dependable service that moves people seamlessly, aligned with world-class safety standards. Working with A2Z brings us closer to establishing a model that serves the UAE and responds to the market's changing transport needs."
Han Ji-hyung, CEO of Autonomous A2Z, stated: "This agreement demonstrates that autonomous driving technology developed and validated in Korea is ready for international deployment. Together with Space42, we look forward to bringing proven autonomous mobility solutions to the UAE and expanding into global markets."
Supporting the UAE's smart mobility vision
The project aligns with the UAE's broader vision to advance AI-enabled transportation and intelligent mobility, as part of its National Smart Mobility Strategy. The project also builds on Space42's portfolio of mobility solutions, including TXAI, an autonomous taxi service that has travelled more than 600,000 km across 20,000 trips with zero recorded accidents since operations began in 2021.
South Korean autonomous driving technology
The agreement marks one of A2Z's largest international deployments, demonstrating the global competitiveness of South Korea's autonomous driving technology. The company has conducted autonomous driving trials across 13 cities and provinces in Korea and operates 91 permitted autonomous vehicles with more than 1.02 million km of cumulative driving experience, spanning software development, vehicle integration, fleet operations, and service management.
The development follows several years of collaboration between Korea and the UAE, supported by government initiatives in technology development, testing, and market entry. Commercial execution was led by A2G (Autonomous to Global), A2Z's Singapore-based joint venture with Kilsa Global, said the statement.
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