Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has announced that DP World as the first strategic partner of its recently launched self-driving logistics joint venture SHIFFT.
The JV was established in collaboration with Oxa, an autonomous vehicle technology company, and forms part of the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation Programme. The partnership will focus on developing and deploying autonomous solutions for ports, terminals, industrial zones and DP World facilities, beginning at Jebel Ali Port. DFF said the solutions could be expanded across DP World’s network of more than 60 ports and terminals worldwide.
The work will cover vehicle integration, autonomous driving capabilities, safety and assurance frameworks, fleet management and orchestration, traffic management and routing, operations in complex mixed-use environments, digital twin capabilities, situational intelligence systems and operational performance optimization.
SHIFFT will develop solutions designed to operate within DP World’s current and future technology environments. DP World said it operates more than 900 vehicles at Jebel Ali Port for inter-terminal container movement and for shuttling cargo between quay cranes, yard stacks and terminal gates, and thousands more across its global network. The company said it views the transition to autonomous operations as part of its long-term operating strategy. DP World will contribute its operational expertise and capabilities in safety and workforce transformation.
“The selection of DP World as the first strategic partner of SHIFFT marks an important step in developing and implementing autonomous logistics solutions from Dubai. This collaboration brings together world-leading operational expertise and advanced technologies to develop practical solutions that can be deployed and scaled globally,” said Khalifa Al Qama, chief of research, development and innovation at DFF.
“For our customers and partners, autonomous technology translates into more predictable, resilient supply chains that keep cargo moving reliably and at speed. It also creates opportunities for our people to build future-ready skills, while strengthening Dubai’s competitiveness as a destination for trade and investment,” said Ibrahim Al Najjar, SVP of information technology at DP World GCC. “By co-developing these technologies here, around real operational needs, we are setting new benchmarks that will benefit the wider industry.”
“This collaboration aims to transform industrial vehicles into an intelligent, autonomous digital workforce capable of operating efficiently in complex, mixed-use environments,” said Paul Newman, founder and chief executive officer of Oxa. “By working with DP World, SHIFFT is helping to elevate operational fleet performance and strengthen the long-term resilience of supply chains.”
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