Oxa & Dubai Future Foundation Open Autonomous Logistics Lab

A new Autonomous Logistics Future Lab has opened in Dubai to develop, test and deploy self-driving logistics technologies across industrial environments, with the first commercial deployment targeted before the end of 2027.

The facility has been launched by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) and autonomous vehicle technology company Oxa through their joint venture, SHIFFT, as part of Dubai's Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Ecosystem. The first phase of work will focus on autonomous vehicle solutions for ports and airports.

The lab will combine autonomous driving technologies with a logistics platform that integrates data collection, analysis and operational intelligence to support end-to-end deployment across industrial sites.

"Through this Lab, we aim to develop new intelligent logistics solutions that create economic opportunities while accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies and their practical applications," Khalifa Al Qama, Chief of Dubai's RDI Ecosystem, said in a statement. He added that the initiative supports Dubai's ambition to strengthen its position as a global hub for next-generation logistics services.

Paul Newman, Founder and CEO of Oxa, said the joint venture would accelerate the commercial deployment of autonomous logistics technologies, helping industrial fleet operators improve efficiency, reliability and safety.

The initiative supports the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which includes a target of doubling Dubai's foreign trade by 2033, and forms part of the wider Dubai RDI Ecosystem, established to advance research, development and innovation through collaboration between government and the private sector.