Bayanat, Yahsat and ICEYE announce space programme

Bayanat, an ADX-listed public company and provider of AI-powered geospatial solutions, and Yahsat, have announced a comprehensive Space Programme aimed at building national satellite remote sensing and Earth Observation (EO) capabilities within the UAE to commercially address business opportunities in the local and global EO market.

The programme forms part of the two companies’ partnership with ICEYE, a SAR satellite manufacturer based in Finland. The expansion of Bayanat’s capabilities into the space sector positions the company to drive its growth strategy and become a prominent player in the industry.

SAR is an active sensing system that illuminates the Earth’s surface and measures the reflected signal to generate high-resolution images. Unlike traditional optical imaging satellites, SAR can capture images day and night, regardless of weather conditions or solar illumination. Compared to other New Space SAR satellite services, ICEYE’s radar antenna covers much larger geographical areas or, at the other end of the scale, provides higher-resolution images of smaller areas.

Bayanat’s programme aims to develop a constellation of at least five SAR low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide a consistent data stream for end-to-end solutions for SAR applications. It will cover the entire value chain by leveraging the available synergies in Yahsat’s upstream and midstream capabilities, including its satellite infrastructure as well as the wide spectrum of its rapidly growing satellite-enabled innovative solutions, and Bayanat’s downstream capabilities such as advanced AI and data analytics and will significantly enhance Bayanat’s commercial offerings by providing valuable geospatial insights to various industries in a timely and accurate manner.

The programme is a stepping stone towards realising a broader space-ecosystem in the UAE, including the development of in-country satellite manufacturing capabilities. It will deliver a range of strategic benefits for the nation, including access to sovereign SAR data acquisition, enhancing data privacy, and further building the nation’s resident capabilities for space exploration. In addition, the programme will fuel collaboration between vital strategic players in the UAE’s space ecosystem, strengthen UAE’s position in space technology and open new possibilities for Bayanat, Yahsat and the country’s future space exploration endeavours.

Hasan AlHosani, CEO of Bayanat, said: “The launch of the first LEO satellite scheduled for Q1 2024 will significantly enhance Bayanat’s existing offerings to provide more comprehensive and high-quality services to clients both locally and internationally. The partnership between Bayanat and Iceye, in collaboration with Yahsat, will drive the development of a sovereign EO ecosystem which will enable us to provide cutting-edge solutions, whilst contributing to skill development, scientific advancements, and sustained economic growth. We are excited to be at the forefront of this dynamic and rapidly evolving field and looking forward to developing a commercial space program in the UAE.”

Ali Al Hashemi, Group CEO of Yahsat, added: “As part of Yahsat’s active role in empowering the space economy sector in line with the UAE’s Space Strategy 2030, we are pleased to collaborate with Bayanat on this ambitious program. Yahsat is committed to join forces with various commercial and government-related entities to strengthen the UAE’s leadership in the space sector in the MENA region, supported by Yahsat’s world-class infrastructure and suite of innovative solutions. We are also advancing new segments such as earth observation, in-country manufacturing and building national capacities in the space sector.”

Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-Founder of ICEYE, stated: “ICEYE is the leading New Space company in the world today with the proven ability to design, build and supply new-era SAR Earth observation satellites for customers. We’re honoured to contribute to Bayanat’s space programme in meeting the sophisticated imagery requirements from their most demanding customers in the UAE. Until the launch next year, we will be providing access to our satellites already in orbit, so Bayanat can start utilising radar satellite imagery for the benefit of the public and private sector customers in the UAE.”