Space42, a UAE-based AI-powered space-tech company under the G42 technology group, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft and Esri to launch the “Map Africa Initiative.” This ambitious project aims to deliver high-resolution, scalable base maps covering all 54 African countries, serving over 1.4 billion people, the company announced this week.
The initiative, set to span five years, will create the most comprehensive base map of Africa to date, addressing critical infrastructure, investment, and institutional gaps. By leveraging advanced geospatial technology, the collaboration will provide precise, accessible data to national and regional stakeholders, fostering economic development and innovation across sectors like ports and logistics, renewable energy, security, disaster response, smart cities, and digital economies.
“Partnership is core to the UAE’s DNA and central to how Space42 operates,” said Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Smart Solutions at Space42. “This collaboration with Microsoft and Esri is strategic, advancing our business priorities and delivering meaningful benefits to African communities. Accurate mapping and intelligent solutions are essential for growth, resilience, and inclusive innovation.”
The initiative will license data to national governments, enabling ownership and long-term updates by National Mapping Agencies. It is also expected to spark a new commercial ecosystem of African startups, with data eventually hosted in G42 and Microsoft-managed data centers across the continent.
Jack Dangermond, president of Esri, emphasized the project’s transformative potential: “Transforming satellite imagery into detailed base maps at a continental scale requires advanced technology. Map Africa will drive infrastructure planning, economic growth, and sustainable development across the continent.”
