Dubai and Oxa launch autonomous logistics venture for ports, airports

Dubai has established itself as an innovation-focused hub, and this venture represents a concrete step toward that strategy. The joint venture between Dubai Future Foundation and Oxa comes as part of Dubai's broader Research, Development, and Innovation Programme, launched in November 2024, which explicitly targets the knowledge-based economy and positions Dubai as a regional R&D hub. By anchoring autonomous logistics capabilities in the emirate's ports and airports—critical infrastructure for a trade-dependent economy—SHIFFT directly addresses Dubai's stated objective to double foreign trade volume by 2033.

Oxa brings proven autonomous vehicle technology to the partnership, including its configurable and explainable self-driving software (Oxa Driver) and cloud-based fleet management (Oxa Hub). The use of Oxa's hardware systems, designed to integrate with existing fleets, suggests the venture aims for practical, rapid deployment rather than wholesale fleet replacement. This emphasis on working within existing infrastructure may lower barriers to early adoption in port and airport environments, where operational disruption is costly.