The Bahrain Space Agency participated in the opening ceremony of “Orbit Works,” the first integrated satellite manufacturing facility in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi, which is the factory that will produce the “Bird” constellation, the first smart Emirati Earth observation fleet.
The leaders of the space sector who participated in the opening ceremony praised this achievement, which reflects the qualitative development of the UAE space system, considering that this facility “embodies the country’s readiness for global competition, and opens new horizons for innovation and advanced technologies.”
Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Asiri, CEO of the Bahrain Space Agency, who participated in the opening ceremony, which was attended by the Minister of State for Youth and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Space Agency, Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al-Falasi, explained that the project contributes to establishing a sustainable space economic base based on knowledge and innovation, enhances the growing role of the national private sector, provides a platform to enhance scientific research and technological development, and supports the training of national cadres.
During the opening, it was announced that the production of the “Al Tayer” constellation had begun, which is the first local commercial constellation in the Middle East, and the first Emirati Earth observation fleet equipped with artificial intelligence, with the expectation that by the end of the decade it will become one of the most advanced Earth observation fleets in the region.
It is worth noting that the facility was designed as an advanced platform of the new generation to accelerate the development and deployment of space technologies, as it includes clean rooms for the complete assembly of satellites, and an integrated testing infrastructure that includes thermal vacuum chambers and electromagnetic interference chambers, as the integrated model of the factory – from design, integration to tests – provides a tremendous acceleration of traditional processes from years to months, enabling the production of customized, high-performance satellites with exceptional flexibility and efficiency.
The first launch of the constellation is scheduled to take place in 2026, beginning a new phase in enhancing the UAE’s growing global position in the field of artificial intelligence and space technologies.
