UAE’s Orbitworks is putting a homegrown satellite constellation into orbit

Abu Dhabi-based Orbitworks is preparing to launch the first satellite in a homegrown, AI-enabled Earth observation constellation called Altair, with the inaugural flight scheduled for October. The joint venture between Marlan Space and San Francisco’s Loft Orbital aims to field a 10-satellite constellation for applications ranging from military intelligence gathering to environmental monitoring, and plans to offer access under a "constellation-as-a-service" model. Orbitworks manufactures satellites at a 50,000-square-foot factory in Abu Dhabi that can produce up to 50 satellites a year, each weighing as much as 500 kilograms.

"There has been a lot more focus on nations to have their own assets in space," said Dr. Hamdullah Mohib, CEO of Orbitworks and Marlan Space. "Not everybody can afford to have their own assets," he added, explaining Altair will be available for lease by businesses, governments and researchers.

Technology and capability

Orbitworks is pitching Altair as part of a broader shift toward on-board data processing. Traditional satellites transmit large volumes of raw data to Earth for later processing; Orbitworks' satellites will run AI in orbit to deliver processed insights "almost instantaneously," Mohib said. That capability is increasingly central as industry peers embed AI on spacecraft — a trend noted by Quentin A. Parker, emeritus professor in astrophysics and space science at the University of Hong Kong: "Everybody that’s anybody that does satellites is looking to put AI on board."

The company positions itself as "the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company" and as a builder of sovereign capability for the UAE. Orbitworks says several institutional customers are lined up to use Altair’s data, including the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy for port and vessel-traffic management, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development to monitor overseas projects, and the French Space Agency — a partnership Mohib described as "a big endorsement for us" and a sign of the UAE shifting from being a buyer to a provider of space services.

Market context and backing

The move comes amid broader global efforts to diversify space supply chains: SpaceX currently accounts for roughly 69% of all active satellites tracked, while other nations and blocs plan large satellite rollouts. The global space market was valued at $224 billion in 2024, with the Middle East and Africa (MEA) market estimated at $18 billion; the UAE contributes about 40–45% of that regional total. Domestically, the UAE established a 3 billion dirham (about $820 million) National Space Fund to spur cooperation and build national know‑how.

• Factory capacity: 50,000 sq ft, up to 50 satellites/year, 500 kg max per satellite
• Constellation: Altair — 10 satellites, first launch in October
• Potential expansion: exploring funding for a billion-dollar plan to add ~40 more satellites

Outlook

Orbitworks is exploring financing for a potential billion-dollar expansion that would add roughly 40 satellites, accelerating the firm’s path from a 10-satellite constellation to a much larger network. Industry observers note falling launch costs and rising AI use cases are opening commercial opportunities for monitoring infrastructure, disaster response and climate tracking. Faisal Hamady, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group in Dubai, said the UAE's strategy now "explicitly aims to build a market-driven ecosystem" rather than rely solely on external suppliers — a shift Orbitworks seeks to capitalize on as it moves toward its October launch and wider manufacturing ambitions.