Space42, Microsoft, and Esri launch initiative to digitally map all of Africa

Gulf Business

4 days ago

Image: Getty Images
Space42, the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company under technology group G42, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft and Esri to launch the Map Africa Initiative, a groundbreaking effort to produce the most comprehensive base map of the African continent. The project will span all 54 African countries and serve more than 1.4 billion people, delivering high-resolution, scalable maps designed to close infrastructure, investment, and institutional data gaps.
The initiative, which was unveiled during
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42, commented: 'Partnership is core to the UAE's DNA, and is central to how Space42 operates. 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. Accurate, high-quality mapping and the intelligence solutions built on it are essential for growth, resilience, and inclusive innovation. With reliable data, communities and economies prosper.'
The mapping process will be a fully integrated effort among the three partners. Space42 will lead the initiative's fundraising, project management, and data provision through sovereign and commercial satellite sources. It will apply AI-powered Digital Twin models to process the data and deliver dynamic, sector-specific outputs, while also driving the research and development agenda for new AI models and automation technologies in map production.
Jack Dangermond, Esri and Hasan Al Hosani, Space42
Esri will manage the base map production workflows by leveraging its GeoAI and remote sensing tools. The company will also support the establishment of regional hubs across Africa to train local talent and build long-term capacity. Meanwhile, Microsoft will provide secure cloud infrastructure and an AI framework through Azure, enabling the seamless processing, sharing, and integration of data at scale.
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Jack Dangermond, president of Esri, 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. These same capabilities have supported similar national and regional mapping efforts around the world. With Map Africa, we are helping to establish a foundational resource that will drive infrastructure planning, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent.'
The Map Africa Initiative
The Map Africa Initiative responds to widespread concerns over fragmented, outdated, or inaccessible geospatial data across Africa. By producing accurate, timely, and locally managed mapping solutions, the project seeks to enable more effective land use, disaster response, and infrastructure planning. The data will be licensed to national governments, allowing long-term maintenance and updates by local mapping agencies. In parallel, the initiative is expected to stimulate a new ecosystem of African startups working with geospatial analytics and AI solutions.
For Space42, the initiative marks a strategic expansion into Africa, reinforcing its role as a preferred partner for governments in need of advanced geospatial capabilities. It also unlocks commercial opportunities in data licensing, infrastructure support, and analytics services, positioning the company for long-term growth in new markets.
Peng Xiao, group chief executive officer at G42, said: 'We believe intelligence is the foundation for societal progress, yet it remains out of reach for millions across the Global South. This partnership is a decisive step toward closing that gap. Together with our partners, we will deliver AI-powered insights that enable African nations to plan smarter, build better, and grow more sustainably and responsibly. From agricultural optimization and natural resource management to strengthening public services infrastructure and economic empowerment, this partnership will help turn data into development, and intelligence into impact.'
He added: 'G42's partnership with Microsoft represents a shared commitment to harnessing AI as a global force for good. Together, we are building the infrastructure and applications that will extend the benefits of intelligence to communities across the world, transforming lives through technology that is trusted, responsible, and inclusive.'
The initiative also aligns closely with the UAE's strategic investment agenda in Africa. With $44bn invested in 2024 alone, the UAE remains the continent's largest foreign investor. By exporting AI and space-enabled technologies through platforms like Space42, the UAE is reinforcing its leadership in digital transformation, supporting both its own innovation goals and those of partner nations across the Global South.
As the project moves forward, data generated from Map Africa will be hosted in Microsoft and G42-managed data centers across the continent, ensuring accessibility and sovereignty for local stakeholders. In doing so, the initiative is expected to deliver meaningful progress on the ground—transforming the way African nations manage resources, deliver services, and chart a more connected, intelligent future.