Dubai Airshow: Bayanat, Yahsat, and ICEYE expand SAR Satellite fleet

The expansion of the constellation – with technology, training, and expertise provided by program partner, ICEYE, a global leader in SAR satellite development – means that orbiting satellites will revisit the Middle East more frequently, enabling Bayanat and Yahsat to deliver near real-time, high-definition images of on-the-ground conditions across the Middle East as they execute their plan to serve domestic and international customers with advanced geospatial intelligence. 

Using radar signals rather than light, the SAR satellite images deliver persistent monitoring of specific locations on the Earth’s surface – day and night, through the clouds, and multiple times per day – and enable government and business customers to detect detailed changes on the ground. Typical applications include identifying oil spills; monitoring maritime activities, for instance, illegal fishing or encroachment into territorial areas; and surveillance activity at ports. These capabilities are applicable to organisations across a wide range of sectors – insurance, national security, and climate change monitoring, among others. 

Hasan Al Hosani, managing director, Bayanat, said: “The decision to expand the SAR satellite fleet is one more milestone for both Bayanat and the UAE as we lay down the foundations of the New Space economy. Developing our technological prowess as we build out a domestic SAR satellite industry will help to diversify our economy, generate high-tech jobs, and bolster our strategic independence.” 

Ali Al Hashemi, Group CEO of Yahsat, said: “As the pioneer of the space sector in the UAE, we are proud of our role in this partnership as we extend the nation’s capabilities, reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in the space sector across the MENA region and actively contributing to the implementation of the UAE space strategy. Yahsat has business and government customers around the globe supported by our world-class satellite communications infrastructure covering 80% of the world’s population."