Middle East

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.

Rivada Space Networks has partnered with Wiseband, an Emirati satellite services company, to bring secure connectivity solutions to the Middle East region. Based in UAE and operating across the Middle East and Africa, Wiseband provides customized private satellite networking solutions to meet high-performance and stringent security requirements. The company currently has connectivity projects in UAE, KSA, Kuwait and Egypt.

This Space Café Radio is the second part of our mini-series about EshailSat -  SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening spoke with Mohamed Al Sayed, Executive Director of Sales at Es'hailSat, Qatar Satellite's Company. The company was founded in 2010 with the aim to provide Qatar with independent satellite capabilities and contribute to Qatar's National Vision 2030. Es'hailSat plays a key role in connecting the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa due to its strategic geographical location.

Space42 has been unveiled as the new brand for the enlarged entity following the announcement of the proposed merger of Bayanat and Yahsat earlier this week. The proposed merger will focus on AI-powered space technology in the MENA region. The companies believe that the combined entity will be optimally positioned to capture regional and international opportunities in geospatial and mobility solutions, satellite communications, and business intelligence.