Orbitworks is developing an AI-powered satellite constellation and preparing to launch its first satellite in October.
In recent years, the UAE has made significant strides in the space sector, from sending its first Emirati astronaut into space to the successful arrival of the Hope Probe in Mars orbit. Today, the country is entering a new phase: developing and manufacturing commercial satellites locally, at a time when nations are racing to bolster their space sovereignty amidst global geopolitical shifts.
In this context, Abu Dhabi-based Orbit Works is developing AI-powered satellites as part of a constellation called Altair, comprising 10 satellites dedicated to Earth observation, with uses ranging from environmental monitoring and resource management to security applications and environmental monitoring.
The company, a joint venture between the UAE’s Marlan Space and the US’s Loft Orbital, plans to launch its first satellites next October, in a move that will enhance the UAE’s position as a regional hub for space technology development.
Data processing into space
Orbitworks satellites rely on artificial intelligence technologies to process data within the satellite itself, rather than sending raw data to ground stations. This allows for the provision of analyses and insights to users almost instantly, giving it a competitive advantage in the global satellite market.
Dr. Hamdullah Mohib, CEO of Orbit Works and Marlan Space, told CNN’s Paula Hancocks that the company offers a “constellation-as-a-service” model, allowing governments, companies, and research institutions to lease satellite capabilities without owning them, amid growing interest from countries in building sovereign space assets.
The company’s factory in Abu Dhabi, which spans 50,000 square feet, has a production capacity of up to 50 satellites per year, weighing up to 500 kilograms each, with a planned expansion worth up to $1 billion to launch an additional 40 satellites.
Leading the space economy
Data from the Boston Consulting Group indicates that the global space market reached $224 billion in 2024, while the size of the space market in the Middle East and Africa is estimated at about $18 billion, with the UAE accounting for 40 to 45% of it.
The country aims to double the revenues of the space economy and join the list of the top 10 space economies globally by 2031, based on large investments in infrastructure, legislation and national cadres, including the National Space Fund worth 3 billion dirhams.
The UAE also has an ambitious program for future space missions, most notably a mission to the asteroid belt scheduled for launch in 2028, in parallel with a focus on building a sovereign space system and developing commercial applications based on artificial intelligence, including monitoring infrastructure, managing ports, responding to disasters, and tracking climate change.
In a sign of growing international confidence in Emirati capabilities, Orbit Works announced that the French Space Agency has joined its list of clients, in a shift that reflects the UAE’s transition from an importer of space technologies to a provider of advanced space solutions and services.
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