Middle East

The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced the establishment of the Neo Space Group (NSG), a wholly-owned PIF company that will become a national champion in the satellite and space sector. The development of the aerospace sector is in line with PIF's strategy to unlock the potential of promising sectors in Saudi Arabia. NSG will consequently enhance the space and satellite sector by developing local capabilities and boosting its strategic position within the growing global space economy

Microsoft Corp. and G42 have announced a comprehensive package of digital investments in Kenya, as part of an initiative with Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy. As part of this initiative, the Kenya Space Agency, Kenya Red Cross Society, and the National Disaster Management Unit are collaborating with Microsoft's AI for Good Lab to improve climate resilience by applying AI models to high-resolution satellite data for disaster preparedness and disaster response. 

At the GEOINT 2024, Torsten Kriening spoke with Tsuri Shemer, Marketing and Business Development Space at IAI about their presence at GEOINT, their new OptSAR-550 satellites and the Mini Communication Satellites. IAI leads space programs for national security, scientific research, and commercial applications for Israel's MOD, foreign governments and private entities. 

Dr. Mohamed Al-Aseeri, Director General of the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) of Bahrain and H.E. Mr. Yusuf Kıraç, President of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) met for a meeting on April 25th, 2024. This meeting marked a significant milestone in enhancing bilateral cooperation and fostering a robust relationship between Saudi Arabia and Turkey in the space sector.

The World Economic Forum has signed an agreement with the Saudi Space Agency to establish a Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) focused on space. The Center will consequently contribute to local and global advances in space technologies and sustainability. The Center for Space Futures will tentatively open in Autumn of 2024, with the aim of facilitating public-private discussions on space collaboration, incorporating best practices from the Forum and its communities into the global space sector,

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company has announced the appointment of Amit Somani as Chief Growth and Strategy Officer. Mr. Somani, a veteran of the satellite communications industry, rejoins Yahsat with over 27 years of experience in satellite communications and management consulting. He already has extensive knowledge of Yahsat across various roles during his previous tenure with the company from 2010 to 2022. These included Vice President of Strategy and Business Development and, most recently, Chief Strategy Officer from 2014 to 2022.

Arabsat and Aldoria have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on enhancing space safety and security. The MoU is one of the fruitful outcomes of the 1st Space Debris Conference in Saudi Arabia held in Riyadh on February 11-12, which the Saudi Space Agency organized.

Speedcast has announced a multi-year contract award by P&O Maritime Logistics to manage communications onboard 59 support vessels operating around three continents and 12 countries across the globe. As a result, Speedcast will deploy its latest SIGMA management and edge computing platform onboard to create a software-automated network comprised of GEO and LEO VSAT, 5G and L-band solutions, delivering the highest service experience and reliability.

Iran launched three satellites, Kayhan-2, Hatef-1, and Mahda into space on Sunday to a minimum orbit of 450km (280 miles). Kayhan-2 and Hatef-1 are nanosatellites that Iran will use to evaluate narrowband communication and geopositioning technology. However, the much bigger Mahda satellites will help the nation test the accuracy of its Simorgh rocket in delivering multiple cargoes to space. 

NASA and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced plans for MBRSC to provide an airlock for Gateway, humanity’s first space station that will orbit the Moon. Under a new implementing arrangement expanding their human spaceflight collaboration with NASA through Gateway, MBRSC will provide Gateway’s Crew and Science Airlock module, as well as a UAE astronaut to fly to the lunar space station on a future Artemis mission.