Abu dhabi: EDGE's space-focused entity, FADA, has finalised a contract with Orbitworks, an Abu Dhabi-based satellite integrator, to support assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) capabilities on Sirb-1, marking the first phase of the UAE Space Agency-led programme to develop and launch sovereign synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite capabilities in the UAE.
According to Emirates News Agency, the contract was signed by Waleid Al Mesmari, President of Space and Cyber Technologies at EDGE, and Dr Hamdullah Mohib, Acting CEO of Orbitworks, during the Make it in the Emirates 2026 event. This collaboration aims to support Sirb's mission of enhancing the UAE's competitive and innovative commercial space sector, which is pivotal for the growth of the country's knowledge-based economy.
EDGE and Orbitworks will work with international partners under a Transfer of Knowledge (ToK) programme. This initiative is designed to absorb, develop, and localise AIT for SAR payload technologies within the UAE permanently. Through structured ToK, they aim to acquire and develop expertise in high-performance sensing and advanced testing, thereby driving the UAE's capabilities in earth observation and radar imaging.
Waleid Al Mesmari expressed that the partnership is a significant step in uniting industry experts and Emirati talent. He emphasized that Sirb is a shared mission to protect the UAE's sovereign resilience and foster long-term innovation, transforming the nation into a hub for satellite development.
Dr Hamdullah Mohib highlighted that the contract is a testament to the sovereign infrastructure established in Abu Dhabi. He mentioned that Orbitworks' AIT facility at KEZAD, designed for high-volume satellite production and integration, provides the technical foundation necessary to undertake complex programmes like Sirb within the UAE.
Led and funded by the UAE Space Agency, the Sirb programme is a strategic national investment focused on advancing sovereign SAR capabilities, facilitating technology transfer, and strengthening the UAE's space sector. This is achieved through the development of national talent, local industry, and integrated supply chains, with EDGE taking the lead as the prime contractor in an Emirati consortium.