Space42, a UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company under G42, has signed an MoU with Microsoft and Esri to launch the Map Africa Initiative.
This five-year collaboration aims to deliver high-resolution, scalable base maps across all 54 African countries, serving over 1.4 billion people.
The initiative addresses Africa’s fragmented and outdated mapping systems, providing accurate geospatial data to drive economic development, infrastructure planning, and innovation.
Key Objectives and Impact
The project aims to create the most detailed base map of Africa, enabling data-driven decisions for governments, businesses, and communities.
It will support industries like logistics, renewable energy, security, and smart cities with precise data for route planning, site selection, disaster response, and urban development.
The project will also license data to national governments for ownership and updates, while fostering a commercial ecosystem for African startups.
Roles and Contributions
Space42 leads fundraising, project management, and satellite data provision, using AI-powered Digital Twin models for dynamic map outputs and R&D for automated workflows.
“This collaboration with Microsoft and Esri is more than technical; it’s strategic. It advances Space42’s business priorities, strengthens our role as a trusted partner to governments, and delivers meaningful benefits to communities across Africa,” said Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42.
Esri will manage the base map production with GeoAI and remote sensing, while training local teams to build long-term capacity.
Finally, Microsoft will provide secure Azure cloud infrastructure and AI frameworks for data processing and integration.
Strategic Significance
The initiative strengthens Space42’s partnerships with Microsoft and Esri, expands its African presence, and opens new markets in analytics and infrastructure.
It aligns with the UAE’s role as Africa’s largest foreign investor ($44 billion in 2024), exporting AI and geospatial expertise to foster innovation-driven economies in Africa and the UAE.
