Dubai Future Foundation and UK-based autonomous vehicle technology company Oxa have launched a joint venture to deploy autonomous logistics solutions in Dubai, with an initial focus on ports and airports.
Announced on 3 August, the new company, SHIFFT, will combine Oxa’s autonomous driving technology with integrated logistics and worksite intelligence systems to support the commercial deployment of self-driving vehicles in industrial environments.
SHIFFT will deliver an end-to-end autonomous logistics product designed to improve operational efficiency, productivity and safety. Its first commercial deployment is scheduled to take place in Dubai before the end of 2027, with the intention of developing scalable autonomous logistics operations.
The joint venture will use Oxa Driver, the company’s autonomous driving software, alongside Oxa Hub, its cloud-based fleet management platform. Oxa’s hardware systems, designed to integrate with existing vehicle fleets, will also form part of the solution.
SHIFFT supports Dubai’s ambition to double its foreign trade volume by 2033 and aligns with the emirate’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Programme, launched by Dubai Future Foundation in 2024 to expand research and development activity, create technology-focused jobs and strengthen the knowledge-based economy.
Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Dubai's RDI Ecosystem at Dubai Future Foundation, said:To achieve Dubai’s ambition of doubling foreign trade by 2033, we must continue to develop and deploy solutions that strengthen the speed, efficiency and resilience of our logistics sector.
SHIFFT reflects the purpose of the Dubai RDI Programme – bringing together global expertise and local capabilities to develop commercially viable solutions with real-world impact. Through this joint venture, we are advancing autonomous mobility, creating new economic opportunities and strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for the future of logistics.
The technology is intended to help fleet operators improve operational efficiency, reliability and safety across industrial sites.
Paul Newman, Founder and CEO of Oxa, said:Forming this new business with DFF will accelerate the commercialisation of Oxa's Industrial Mobile Autonomy (IMA) technology, turning ordinary work vehicles into a digital workforce. Operating in major industrial environments, we will leverage autonomy to unlock new levels of efficiency, reliability and safety for operators of industrial fleets.
