Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) 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 airport and port operations.
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 deployment of self-driving vehicles in industrial environments, including airports.
SHIFFT aims to deliver an end-to-end autonomous logistics platform designed to improve the efficiency, productivity and safety of ground operations. The partners plan to launch the first commercial deployment in Dubai before the end of 2027.
The joint venture will utilise Oxa Driver, the company’s autonomous driving software, together with Oxa Hub, its cloud-based fleet management platform. Oxa’s autonomy hardware, designed to integrate with existing vehicle fleets, will also be incorporated into the solution, enabling the automation of a range of operational vehicles without requiring entirely new fleets.
For airports, the technology could support the automation of logistics and airside support operations, helping operators improve fleet utilisation, operational resilience and the movement of goods and equipment across complex sites.
SHIFFT supports Dubai’s ambition to double its foreign trade volume by 2033 and forms part of the emirate’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Programme.
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 autonomous systems combine vehicle automation with fleet management software, allowing operators to manage self-driving vehicles across industrial sites from a central platform.
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.
