Space42 and ICEYE have announced a strategic joint venture to manufacture SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellites in the UAE. This collaboration marks a significant step toward advancing the UAE’s Earth Observation capabilities, localizing satellite production, and achieving the goals outlined in the UAE’s Space Strategy 2030. The partnership supports the growing demand for SAR technology, enhances disaster response efforts, and empowers Emirati talent to lead in space innovation.
Key Takeaways:
- SAR Satellite Manufacturing: The joint venture focuses on producing SAR satellites in the UAE, providing high-resolution imagery for Earth Observation programs.
- Technology Transfer and Knowledge Sharing: The partnership enables local talent to access advanced SAR technology and expertise, strengthening national R&D efforts.
- Alignment with UAE Space Strategy: This initiative directly supports the UAE’s Space Strategy 2030 by fostering local capabilities and promoting the New Space economy.
A Joint Venture for SAR Satellite Manufacturing
The collaboration between Space42 and ICEYE aims to bring SAR satellite manufacturing to the UAE, addressing the growing global demand for high-resolution imagery. SAR technology provides unmatched Earth Observation capabilities, capturing data under all weather conditions and during day or night.
This joint venture builds on Space42 and ICEYE’s successful partnership, which launched the UAE’s first SAR satellite, Foresight-1, in August 2024. Foresight-1 is part of the UAE’s SAR constellation, a critical element of the national Earth Observation (EO) Program. Over the next three years, this program will further expand with additional satellite launches.
Advancing the UAE’s Space Ecosystem
The joint venture’s manufacturing operations will be based at Space42’s Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facilities in Abu Dhabi. These facilities will serve as a hub for SAR satellite production, constellation management, and cutting-edge R&D efforts. This initiative strengthens ICEYE’s footprint in the UAE and creates a local ecosystem for SAR technology, reducing reliance on external providers.
The partnership also enriches the UAE’s industrial ecosystem by localizing the supply chain. Components and services will be sourced from UAE-based companies, providing new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and driving economic growth.
Supporting the UAE’s Space Strategy 2030
This collaboration aligns closely with the UAE’s Space Strategy 2030, which emphasizes fostering local space capabilities, advancing EO technologies, and supporting national sustainability goals. By developing sovereign access to SAR satellite technology, the UAE is positioned to lead in areas like disaster response, environmental monitoring, and urban planning.
Technology Transfer and Emiratization
The venture serves as a platform for technology transfer and knowledge sharing. By working closely with ICEYE, Space42 enables Emirati engineers and researchers to gain expertise in SAR technology. This directly supports the UAE’s Emiratization efforts, creating new opportunities for national talent to contribute to space innovation.
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Bayanat Smart Solutions, Space42, stated:
“The joint venture is a continuation of our ongoing strategic partnership with ICEYE to advance Earth Observation capabilities. It 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. It also supports the UAE’s space ambitions by bringing SAR manufacturing to the region, positioning the nation at the forefront of advancing space technology globally.”
ICEYE’s SAR Technology and Disaster Response
ICEYE is globally recognized for its SAR satellite capabilities, particularly in Earth Observation, persistent monitoring, and disaster response. SAR satellites provide near real-time data, helping emergency teams respond faster to natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, and wildfires.
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE, stated:
“This joint venture is expected to bring efficiency in deploying, managing, and operating SAR constellations as Space42 and ICEYE join forces to address the market in a coordinated approach. We are proud to see our satellite production line extended to manufacture state-of-the-art SAR technologies in the UAE through our partnership with Space42, enhancing the global reach and positive impact of ICEYE’s technology. We are excited to grow ICEYE’s local footprint and look forward to accelerating the UAE space program and the local space and SAR capabilities by harnessing the most of both companies’ expertise for the benefit of the people of the UAE.”
Jamil Kawar, VP for Missions – Middle East and North Africa, elaborated in an interview:
“The launch of Foresight-1 is particularly important as it marks the beginning of our long-term plans for the UAE, which we are undertaking in partnership with Space-42. The successful launch is a significant milestone in advancing the nation’s space capabilities and aligns closely with its National Space Strategy 2030, particularly around its plans to foster growth in the Emirates’ domestic space industry and its goal of building national satellite remote sensing and Earth Observation capabilities.”
Enhancing Disaster Response and Environmental Monitoring
ICEYE’s SAR satellites play a critical role in disaster management by providing precise, actionable data. For instance, its flood extent mapping allows emergency responders to assess inundated areas quickly and allocate resources effectively.
In addition to disaster response, SAR technology is invaluable for environmental monitoring. It can track oil spills, measure coastline erosion, and observe climate-related changes over time. This capability makes ICEYE’s satellites essential for long-term planning and climate resilience efforts.
Jamil Kawar further highlighted:
“Our satellite technology offers a transformative solution for regions prone to natural disasters by providing near real-time, high-resolution Earth observation capabilities. When it comes to floods, for example, we enable responders to map the true impact (depth and extent) of flooding within hours of a flood’s peak, helping them to make better-informed decisions and focus emergency response efforts where it’s needed most. Meanwhile, ICEYE’s SAR constellation transforms wildfire response by delivering GIS-ready insights before the smoke has cleared.”
Future Plans for SAR Expansion
Looking ahead, ICEYE plans to grow its SAR satellite constellation, with new launches scheduled for 2025 and beyond. This expansion will increase revisit rates, improve data delivery times, and enable even more precise monitoring of dynamic phenomena like natural disasters or infrastructure changes.
Jamil Kawar emphasized ICEYE’s vision:
“As our constellation grows, we will be able to play an increasingly important role not only in disaster response, but also in strengthening environmental monitoring, such as tracking desertification, water resource management, and coastal erosion, which are critical for climate resilience. Additionally, our technology will likely be used to support urban development, infrastructure monitoring and agricultural optimization, empowering governments and industries in the region with actionable insights to drive sustainable growth and mitigate regional challenges.”
The Space42-ICEYE joint venture is a landmark initiative that advances the UAE’s Earth Observation capabilities while empowering local talent and fostering economic growth. The UAE gains sovereign access to critical data, positioning the nation as a global leader in space technology posts by manufacturing SAR satellites locally. This partnership strengthens the UAE’s alignment with its Space Strategy 2030 and creates lasting opportunities for innovation and sustainability.
