Space42 is continuing to strengthen the UAE’s position in the global space technology sector by building advanced local capabilities in satellite manufacturing, artificial intelligence and Earth observation technologies.
Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) during the ‘Make it in the Emirates 2026’ event, Hasan Al Hosani said the company is focused on turning the UAE’s ambitions in space technology into strong industrial, operational and sovereign capabilities within the country.
Al Hosani said Space42 is developing a complete space ecosystem that can design, assemble, integrate, test and operate advanced space technologies in the UAE. The company is also using artificial intelligence to convert satellite-based data into practical insights that support governments, businesses and critical sectors.
He highlighted the importance of the company’s Foresight constellation project, saying it reflects Space42’s long-term strategy to localise major parts of the space technology value chain inside the UAE. This includes the assembly, integration and testing of advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites.
Al Hosani also pointed to the launch of Space42 Space Systems in Abu Dhabi, describing it as the region’s first Earth observation satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) facility.
According to him, the launch of Foresight-3, Foresight-4 and Foresight-5 marks a major milestone for the UAE space sector. These are the first SAR satellites to be integrated and tested within the UAE, showing the country’s progress from knowledge transfer to real industrial and technological capability.
He added that these developments are helping the UAE build advanced national expertise in Earth observation technologies while strengthening sovereign capabilities in the space sector.
On localisation efforts, Al Hosani said Space42 sees localisation as a long-term process aimed at building sustainable industrial expertise and production capabilities across the entire value chain.
The company is also working to expand local expertise in satellite design, development and operations, while supporting the growth of Emirati technical talent and increasing cooperation with industrial partners, government organisations and private companies.
Al Hosani further explained that artificial intelligence is playing a major role in Space42’s operations through its GIQ geospatial intelligence platform. The platform collects and analyses geospatial data from satellites, high-altitude platforms and ground sensors.
These AI-powered technologies are being used in disaster management, infrastructure monitoring, urban planning, environmental monitoring and national security applications.
He said the advanced capabilities allow faster and more accurate decision-making, improve operational efficiency and strengthen the UAE’s position as a regional hub for Earth observation technology development and exports.
