The program aims to develop a constellation of five LEO SAR satellites, with the first satellite scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2024
Bayanat, an ADX-listed public company and leading provider of AI-based geospatial solutions, and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (Yahsat), the UAE’s leading satellite solutions provider (ADX: YAHSAT), today announced a comprehensive Space Program aimed at developing national satellite remote sensing and Earth Observation (EO) capabilities in the UAE to commercially address business opportunities in the local and global EO market.
The program is part of the two companies’ partnership with ICEYE, a renowned SAR satellite manufacturer based in Finland. The expansion of Bayanat’s capabilities into the space sector positions the company to drive its growth strategy and become a prominent player in the industry.
SAR is an active sensing system that illuminates the Earth’s surface and measures the reflected signal to generate high-resolution images. Unlike traditional optical imaging satellites, SAR can capture images day and night regardless of weather conditions or solar illumination. Compared to other New Space SAR satellite services, ICEYE’s radar antenna covers much larger geographic areas or, at the other end of the scale, provides higher resolution images of smaller areas.
Bayanat’s program aims to develop a constellation of at least five Low Earth Orbit (LEO) SAR satellites to provide a consistent data stream for end-to-end solutions for SAR applications. It will cover the entire value chain by leveraging the synergies available in Yahsat’s upstream and midstream resources, including its leading satellite infrastructure as well as the broad spectrum of its rapidly growing innovative satellite-enabled solutions, and Bayanat’s downstream resources, such as advanced AI and data analytics, and will significantly enhance Bayanat’s commercial offerings by providing valuable geospatial information to various industries quickly and accurately.
The program is a stepping stone towards the realization of a broader space ecosystem in the UAE, including the development of satellite manufacturing capabilities in the country. It will provide a number of strategic benefits for the country, including access to sovereign SAR data acquisition, improved data privacy, and the development of the country’s resident resources for space exploration. In addition, the program will stimulate collaboration among vital strategic participants in the UAE space ecosystem, strengthen the UAE’s position in space technology, and open up new possibilities for Bayanat, Yahsat and the country’s future space exploration efforts.
Hasan AlHosani, CEO of Bayanat, said, “The launch of the first LEO satellite, scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, will significantly enhance Bayanat’s existing offerings to provide more comprehensive and high-quality services to local and international customers. The partnership between Bayanat and ICEYE, in collaboration with Yahsat, will drive the development of a sovereign EO ecosystem that will enable us to provide cutting-edge solutions, contributing to skills development, scientific advancements and sustained economic growth. We are excited to be at the forefront of this dynamic and rapidly evolving field and look forward to developing a commercial space program in the UAE.”
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Yahsat Group, said, “As part of Yahsat’s active role in enabling the space economy sector in line with the UAE Space Strategy 2030, we are pleased to collaborate with Bayanat on this ambitious program. Yahsat is committed to joining forces with various commercial and government entities to strengthen the UAE’s leadership in the space sector in the MENA region, supported by Yahsat’s world-class infrastructure and suite of innovative solutions. We are also moving forward in new segments such as Earth observation, in-country manufacturing, and developing national capabilities in the space sector.”
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE, said: “ICEYE is the leading New Space company in the world today, with proven capabilities to design, build and deliver new-age SAR Earth observation satellites to customers. We are honored to contribute to Bayanat’s space program, meeting the sophisticated imaging requirements of their most demanding customers in the UAE. By launch next year, we will provide access to our satellites already in orbit so that Bayanat can begin using radar satellite imagery for the benefit of public and private sector customers in the UAE.”