UAE’s Space42 Partners with Microsoft and Esri to Launch Pan-African High-Resolution Mapping Project

UAE-based SpaceTech firm Space42 has signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft and Esri to launch the ‘Map Africa Initiative’—a five-year project aimed at delivering high-resolution base maps across all 54 African nations.

The initiative, announced during the 2025 Esri User Conference, seeks to provide accurate and accessible geospatial data to over 1.4 billion people across the continent. It represents a major step in closing long-standing data gaps that have hindered infrastructure planning, investment, and development.

The Map Africa Initiative will create the continent’s most comprehensive geospatial database to date, with the goal of empowering governments, businesses, and communities through better decision-making tools and real-time spatial intelligence.

“Partnership is at the heart of the UAE’s approach, and this project exemplifies that,” said Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42. “Accurate, high-quality mapping and the intelligence built on it are essential to driving resilience, innovation, and inclusive growth across Africa.”

Under the agreement, Space42 will lead project coordination and fundraising efforts, supplying satellite data and applying its proprietary AI-powered digital twin models to produce tailored outputs. Esri will be responsible for the production of base maps using its GeoAI and remote sensing capabilities, while also helping to train local teams to ensure the sustainability of the mapping infrastructure. Microsoft will provide cloud support and AI resources via its Azure platform to manage large-scale data processing and distribution.

Esri president Jack Dangermond praised the collaboration, stating: “Transforming satellite imagery into detailed, accurate base maps at a continental scale demands advanced geospatial technology and professional production workflows. We are proud to support this effort.”

The initiative is expected to impact multiple sectors, including logistics, renewable energy, public safety, and urban development. From streamlining port operations to improving site selection for clean energy projects, the data will play a foundational role in modernising infrastructure across Africa.

The mapping datasets will be licensed to national governments, with updates managed by local agencies. Data hosting will be carried out through Microsoft and G42-managed centres, laying the groundwork for a wider commercial ecosystem driven by African startups.

Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, emphasized the broader strategic implications of the collaboration. “This partnership is a decisive step toward closing the intelligence gap. Together, we will deliver AI-powered insights that help African nations plan smarter and grow more sustainably.”

The project also aligns with the UAE’s expanding investment footprint in Africa. In 2024, the UAE was the continent’s largest foreign investor, deploying $44 billion—nearly equal to the combined contributions of the UK and China. The Map Africa Initiative underscores the UAE’s ambition to be a global leader in AI-driven space and development technologies.