The development of functional solid-state materials for carbon capture at low carbon dioxide (CO
2) concentrations, namely, from confined spaces (<0.5%) and in particular from air (400 ppm), is of prime importance with respect to energy and environment sustainability. Herein, we report the deliberate construction of a hydrolytically stable fluorinated metal–organic framework (MOF),
NbOFFIVE-1-Ni, with the appropriate pore system (size, shape, and functionality), ideal for the effective and energy-efficient removal of trace carbon dioxide. Markedly, the CO
2-selective
NbOFFIVE-1-Ni exhibits the highest CO
2 gravimetric and volumetric uptake (ca. 1.3 mmol/g and 51.4 cm
3 (STP) cm–3) for a physical adsorbent at 400 ppm of CO
2 and 298 K. Practically,
NbOFFIVE-1-Ni offers the complete CO
2 desorption at 328 K under vacuum with an associated moderate energy input of 54 kJ/mol, typical for the full CO
2 desorption in conventional physical adsorbents but considerably lower than chemical sorbents. Noticeably, the contracted square-like channels, affording the close proximity of the fluorine centers, permitted the enhancement of the CO
2–framework interactions and subsequently the attainment of an unprecedented CO
2 selectivity at very low CO
2 concentrations. The precise localization of the adsorbed CO
2 at the vicinity of the periodically aligned fluorine centers, promoting the selective adsorption of CO
2, is evidenced by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction study on
NbOFFIVE-1-Ni hosting CO
2 molecules. Cyclic CO
2/N
2 mixed-gas column breakthrough experiments under dry and humid conditions corroborate the excellent CO2 selectivity under practical carbon capture conditions. Pertinently, the notable hydrolytic stability positions
NbOFFIVE-1-Ni as the new benchmark adsorbent for direct air capture and CO
2 removal from confined spaces.