UAE defence firm EDGE forays into space domain with ‘FADA’

UAE defence firm EDGE Group said on Monday that it had launched a new space firm that is expected to significantly solidify the group’s position as a leader in space capabilities and add next-generation solutions to its rapidly growing product portfolio.

The new company, FADA, will develop sovereign space capabilities and homegrown technologies as part of EDGE’s broader strategy to advance the UAE’s interests in defence technology.

“The launch of FADA will enable EDGE to grow and fortify its position in the global space industry in line with the UAE’s vision of becoming a leader in space technologies, creating the blueprint for a self-sufficient and innovative ecosystem,” said Hamad Al Marar, managing director and CEO of EDGE Group.

“This landmark development also adds next-generation solutions to our product portfolio, representing a strategic leap towards technological excellence and signalling our broader ambitions to be a disruptor in this critical domain.”

By leveraging national and international partnerships and fostering vital synergies through the Transfer of Technology and Transfer of Knowledge, the new space firm seeks to build a self-reliant sovereign space sector that can support national and commercial requirements.

FADA is expected to significantly contribute to the UAE’s transition to a knowledge-based economy and its broader economic diversification goals.

The space firm will create advanced facilities for designing, building, testing, and integrating various satellite components. The one-stop centre will offer complete space solutions, including satellite payloads (such as SAR, EO, and IR), platforms, cybersecurity, and other space services, to both local and international customers.

The launch follows EDGE’s selection as the lead contractor for the Sirb program, a constellation of three fully IP-owned synthetic aperture radar satellites that marked the group’s first venture in the space domain. Sirb aims to launch the first satellite, Sirb-1, by 2026.

Meanwhile, the merger between Abu Dhabi satellite operator Yahsat and geographic data and analytics provider Bayanat, which will create one of the world’s most valuable listed space firms, will become effective on October 1.

The deal, which was announced last December and approved by shareholders in March, is being executed through a share swap, with Bayanat remaining as the legal entity. The shareholders of Bayanat and Yahsat will own 54 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively, of the merged entity Space42.

Read: Space42’s Karim Sabbagh on the Bayanat-Yahsat merger, spacetech and future plans