Dubai Future Foundation and Oxa launch SHIFFT to commercialize autonomous logistics

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and autonomous vehicle technology company Oxa have launched the Autonomous Logistics Future Lab through a joint venture named SHIFFT, aiming to accelerate the development and commercial deployment of autonomous logistics technologies in Dubai.

Launched under the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Ecosystem, SHIFFT will develop, test, and validate next-generation autonomous logistics solutions to enhance productivity, strengthen operational resilience, and create economic value across the logistics sector.

The initiative supports the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double the emirate’s foreign trade by 2033. By combining autonomous driving technology with worksite data collection, analytics, and operational intelligence, SHIFFT seeks to enable end-to-end autonomous logistics operations across industrial environments.

The first phase will focus on deploying autonomous vehicle solutions at ports and airports, with the partners targeting the first commercial deployment in Dubai before the end of 2027.

Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Dubai’s RDI Ecosystem at Dubai Future Foundation, said the initiative is designed to accelerate the adoption of intelligent logistics technologies, create new economic opportunities, and reinforce Dubai’s position as a global logistics hub.

Paul Newman, founder and CEO of Oxa, said the partnership would help accelerate the commercial deployment of industrial mobile autonomy technologies, improving the efficiency, reliability, and safety of industrial vehicle fleets.

SHIFFT will leverage configurable autonomous driving software, cloud-based fleet management systems, and specialized autonomy hardware that can be integrated with existing industrial vehicles and equipment, enabling scalable deployment across logistics operations.

Established under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai RDI Ecosystem supports government and private sector organizations in developing advanced technologies and reinforces Dubai’s position as a regional hub for research, innovation, and future industries.