UK autonomous vehicle company Oxa has partnered with Dubai Future Foundation to launch SHIFFT, a joint venture focused on deploying autonomous mobility technology across industrial environments. The project will initially target ports, airports and high-throughput logistics operations, with commercial rollout planned for late 2027. (UKTN)
Oxford-based autonomous vehicle software company Oxa is expanding into the Middle East after signing a partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) to establish a new autonomous mobility hub in Dubai. (UKTN)
The initiative, named SHIFFT, will combine Oxa’s autonomous driving software, cloud fleet management platform and sensor technology with Dubai’s infrastructure and logistics ecosystem. The joint venture will focus initially on industrial mobility, rather than consumer robotaxis, targeting environments such as ports, airports and large-scale worksites. (UKTN)
Financial terms of the partnership, including investment amount, ownership structure and valuation impact for Oxa, were not disclosed.
Oxa, founded in Oxford, develops autonomous driving software designed to transform existing industrial vehicles into autonomous systems. The company positions its technology around industrial applications including logistics, freight and controlled environments where fleet efficiency and safety are critical. (Homepage - Oxa)
The Dubai expansion follows a relationship between Oxa and the UAE that began in 2024, as the company explored opportunities to deploy autonomous vehicle technology in the region. (UKTN)
The partnership aligns with Dubai’s broader economic strategy, including the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to expand trade activity and strengthen the emirate’s position as a global logistics hub through technology and automation. (UKTN)
“Oxa’s Industrial Mobile Autonomy technology” will be used to support what the company describes as a transition of traditional work vehicles into digitally managed autonomous fleets. Oxa chief executive Paul Newman said the joint venture would accelerate commercialisation of the company’s technology in industrial environments. (UKTN)
The autonomous vehicle sector has attracted significant investment globally, with companies competing to commercialise software capable of operating safely in complex environments. Dubai has also been advancing autonomous transport initiatives, including commercial autonomous taxi deployments with other technology providers. (Government of Dubai Media Office)
For Oxa, the Dubai agreement represents an international expansion move that could position the company closer to major logistics operators and infrastructure projects across the Middle East. The first commercial deployments from SHIFFT are expected from late 2027. (UKTN)
Original source: UKTN — https://www.uktech.news/ai/oxa-dubai-autonomous-vehicles-20260803
