Altair-1, designed and assembled in Abu Dhabi, is now in orbit as the first of a planned constellation of UAE-made satellites.
The UAE has added another milestone to its fast-growing space story. Altair-1, the first commercial satellite to be built entirely in the country, was launched on Friday aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission from California.
The satellite was designed, manufactured and integrated in Abu Dhabi by Orbitworks, a space technology company that is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s Marlan Space and San Francisco-based Loft Orbital. It is the UAE’s first commercial Earth observation satellite powered by artificial intelligence.
“Today, a satellite built in Abu Dhabi is in orbit,” said Dr Hamdullah Mohib, chief executive of Orbitworks and Marlan Space. He described the launch as proof that capabilities developed in the UAE can deliver commercial value well beyond the country’s borders.
The launch marks a shift for the UAE’s space sector, from government-led missions toward a homegrown commercial industry capable of building and selling satellites at scale.
Altair-1 and the UAE’s First Commercial Satellite Constellation
Altair-1 is the first of 10 satellites that will make up the Altair constellation, a multi-sensor Earth observation system designed and built in the UAE. Orbitworks expects to deploy the full constellation within 12 months of this first launch.
The satellites are designed to support a range of uses, including environmental monitoring, disaster response and infrastructure assessment. By using artificial intelligence, the system aims to give governments and organizations faster access to satellite data without the need to build their own ground networks and operations.
The company’s ambitions go further. Mohib said the launch paves the way for 10 more satellites over the next 12 months and 50 more over the next few years, adding that it shows the world what the UAE has quietly built.
Before reaching California, the satellite made its own journey across the world. In August, Emirates SkyCargo flew Altair-1 aboard a Boeing 777 freighter from Dubai World Central to Los Angeles, where it went through final testing and was integrated with the launch vehicle.
Altair-1 was built at Orbitworks’ manufacturing and integration facility in Abu Dhabi’s KEZAD economic zone. The 4,645-square-meter complex was inaugurated in November and is the first facility in the Middle East dedicated to commercial satellite production.
The factory is designed for mass production, allowing satellites to be built faster and in larger numbers than traditional programs, which often take years to complete. That approach is central to Orbitworks’ plans to supply satellites to clients both in the region and internationally.
The UAE has built an impressive space record in a short time. In 2018, KhalifaSat, developed by engineers at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, became the first satellite built entirely by Emiratis. The country has since sent astronauts into space and placed its Hope Probe in orbit around Mars.
Altair-1 is different because it was built by a private company for commercial use. That makes it an important step in the UAE’s efforts to develop a space industry that can compete globally, alongside government missions.
The country has also invested heavily in the sector, including through its AED3 billion National Space Fund, which supports cooperation between Emirati and international companies to build local expertise.
With Altair-1 now in orbit and nine more satellites set to follow within a year, the UAE’s commercial space ambitions are entering a new phase.
