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UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech firm Space42 has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft and Esri to deliver high-resolution base maps across all 54 African nations.
The five-year initiative, called the ‘Map Africa Initiative’, aims to support more than 1.4 billion people by improving access to geospatial data and intelligent solutions across the continent.
Announced at the 2025 Esri User Conference, the partnership will address long-standing gaps in infrastructure, investment and data availability by producing the continent’s most comprehensive mapping database to date. The effort is designed to catalyze economic development through improved information flow to governments, businesses and communities.
“Partnership is core to the UAE’s DNA, and is central to how Space42 operates,” said Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42. “This collaboration with Microsoft and Esri is more than technical, it’s strategic… Accurate, high-quality mapping and the intelligence solutions built on it are essential for growth, resilience, and inclusive innovation.”
Esri president Jack Dangermond said, “We are proud to support the Map Africa Initiative in partnership with Space42. Transforming satellite imagery into detailed, accurate base maps at continental scale requires advanced geospatial technology and professional production workflows.”
How Space42, Esri and Microsoft will fill the mapping gap
Africa’s maps are often fragmented, outdated or inaccessible, leaving key decision-makers without accurate data. The Map Africa Initiative aims to change that by generating continent-wide geospatial data that is timely, accurate and managed locally.
Space42 will lead the project’s fundraising and coordination, provide satellite data, and use AI-powered digital twin models to process and tailor outputs. It will also drive the R&D roadmap for AI models and automated map production.
Esri will oversee base map production using its GeoAI and remote sensing capabilities, while helping train local teams to sustain mapping efforts in the long term.
Microsoft will provide cloud infrastructure and AI support through its Azure platform to enable large-scale data sharing and processing.
Sector-wide impact
The mapping initiative is expected to benefit several key industries, including:
Ports and logistics: Enhanced terrain mapping will support route planning and reduce inefficiencies.
Renewable energy: Improved site selection for solar and wind projects.
Security and disaster response: Better monitoring of borders and natural resources, improved emergency response coordination.
Smart cities: Foundational data for urban planning, service delivery and digital economy growth.
The mapping data will be licensed to national governments, with local agencies responsible for long-term updates. A commercial ecosystem is expected to emerge, powered by African startups, with data hosted in G42 and Microsoft-managed centres across the continent.
Strategic importance
For Space42, the MoU strengthens existing ties with Microsoft and Esri, expands its footprint in Africa, and opens new revenue streams in analytics and licensing. It also reinforces Space42’s positioning as a key partner for governments in delivering scalable geospatial data solutions.
“This partnership is a decisive step toward closing the intelligence gap,” said Peng Xiao, group CEO of G42. “Together with our partners, we will deliver AI-powered insights that enable African nations to plan smarter, build better, and grow more sustainably.”
Xiao added that the collaboration with Microsoft highlights a joint commitment to leveraging AI responsibly to benefit underserved communities.
UAE’s growing footprint
The initiative aligns with the UAE’s broader strategic interests. The UAE was Africa’s largest foreign investor in 2024, with $44bn in capital deployed, nearly matching the combined investments of the UK and China.
As the UAE’s national space entity, Space42 plays a key role in exporting data-driven development tools and fostering knowledge transfer between the UAE and Africa.
The effort supports the UAE’s ambitions to lead in AI-enabled space solutions, while creating new opportunities across both regions in areas like infrastructure, smart cities and public services.
