Space42 teams up with ICEYE to manufacture SAR satellites in UAE

Space42 and ICEYE have agreed to create a joint venture (JV) to manufacture Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites in the UAE, building on two the two entities’ successful collaboration, which includes the launch of the country’s first SAR satellite, Foresight-1, in August 2024.

The venture is expected to advance the UAE’s Earth Observation (EO) Program, which was created to build national satellite remote sensing and EO capabilities. It also aims to address the growing demand for high-resolution imagery and data from SAR satellites, which can be applied across various use cases.

Space42’s new Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) and LEO mission operations facilities in Abu Dhabi will serve as the hub for a local SAR ecosystem. The venture between Space42 and ICEYE will leverage the facilities for satellite manufacturing operations, and Space42’s constellation operation services will also be based there.

Space42 and ICEYE’s partnership seeks to foster technology transfer and knowledge sharing, driving national R&D efforts for future sovereign SAR payloads. The JV will support the UAE’s increasing demand for SAR and Earth Observation capabilities by strengthening ICEYE’s local presence.

“The joint venture will directly support Space42’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of space and ground systems capabilities, ultimately adding customer value through AI-enabled solutions,” said Hasan Al Hosani, the CEO of Bayanat Smart Solutions, Space42.

Al Hosani said the venture will support the UAE’s space ambitions by bringing SAR manufacturing to the region, positioning the nation at the forefront of advancing space technology globally.

Meanwhile, Space42 was created following the merger of Abu Dhabi satellite operator Yahsat and geographic data and analytics provider Bayanat in April, creating the region’s first AI-powered space technology company, with a market capitalisation of $2.61bn (Dhs9.61bn) as of December 9, 2024.

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