Abu Dhabi: TECHz – News Desk
Space42, a UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, and South Korea’s leading autonomous driving firm, Autonomous A2Z (A2Z), have finalized a $7 million commercial contract to deploy Level-4 mobility solutions across the United Arab Emirates.
The direct supply contract operates independently of a joint venture the two companies previously established in 2025 and marks A2Z’s formal expansion into the Middle Eastern market. Through this smart mobility convergence project, Space42 will entirely replace the existing fleet of Chinese-built autonomous vehicles currently operating under its “TXAI” service with A2Z’s self-driving technology.
Valued at 27.91 million dirhams, the deal includes the delivery of 19 advanced vehicles designed for specialized public transit. The deployment will feature eight of A2Z’s independently developed “ROii” Level-4 shuttles, which lack driver seats and will be shipped fully assembled from South Korea. The remainder of the fleet consists of five Kia PV5-based vehicles, five Kia Carnival-based vehicles, and one MAN bus, all of which will be sourced and modified locally for autonomous operations.
Initial deployment is slated for the second half of 2026, targeting pilot roboshuttle operations on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island and Yas Island. Following real-world verification of local road conditions and user demand, Space42 plans to evolve the TXAI service into demand-responsive transit and tourist shuttles starting in 2027.
Beyond providing the hardware, A2Z will deliver its full-stack autonomous ecosystem. The South Korean firm is tasked with building an integrated control infrastructure that includes autonomous driving software, a fleet management control system, and a remote-control cockpit required for localized oversight. These systems will directly integrate with Space42’s ride-hailing application to streamline the end-user booking experience.
Leadership from both organizations highlighted the agreement as a critical milestone for integrating AI into urban transport.
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, stated that autonomous mobility is critical infrastructure for smart city development and that their focus is to turn the UAE’s ambitions into a dependable service that moves people seamlessly. Similarly, Han Ji-hyung, CEO of Autonomous A2Z, emphasized that the agreement demonstrates their technology is ready for international deployment, setting the groundwork for large-scale autonomous operations across the broader Middle East.
