Abu dhabi: Space42 is making significant strides in enhancing the United Arab Emirates' space technology capabilities through the localisation of its Foresight satellite assembly. Hasan Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of Smart Solutions at Space42, emphasized the company's commitment to transforming the UAE's ambitions in space technology into comprehensive industrial and operational capabilities within the nation.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Hosani discussed these developments during the 'Make it in the Emirates 2026' event. He revealed that Space42 is creating an integrated ecosystem dedicated to the design, assembly, integration, testing, and operation of space technologies. This ecosystem leverages artificial intelligence to convert space-based data into practical insights for governments, businesses, and essential sectors.
Al Hosani elaborated on the Foresight constellation, which embodies Space42's strategy by localising important stages of the value chain in the UAE, including the assembly, integration, and testing of advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. He also highlighted the establishment of Space42 Space Systems in Abu Dhabi, marking the region's first Earth observation satellite Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facility.
Furthermore, Al Hosani noted the launch of Foresight-3, Foresight-4, and Foresight-5 as the first SAR satellites to be integrated and tested in the UAE. This milestone represents a shift from knowledge transfer to tangible industrial capability and aids in developing sophisticated sovereign national capacities in Earth observation technologies.
On the subject of localisation, Al Hosani stated that Space42 sees it as a gradual process towards establishing industrial expertise and sustainable production capabilities across the value chain. The company is focused on expanding advanced in-country capabilities in design, development, and operations, alongside fostering national technical talent and enhancing collaboration with industrial partners, government bodies, and the private sector.
He also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in the company's operations through its GIQ geospatial intelligence platform. This platform collects and analyzes geospatial data from satellites, high-altitude platforms, and ground sensors to support applications such as disaster management, infrastructure monitoring, urban planning, national security, and environmental monitoring.
Al Hosani concluded by stating that these capabilities enhance decision-making efficiency, improve operational effectiveness, and bolster the UAE's position as a regional hub for the development, operation, and export of Earth observation solutions.