UAE to begin satellite assembly at new Al Ain facility

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is to build and develop satellite systems and components under a new agreement with Airbus.

The country’s offset body, the Tawazun Economic Council (TEC), announced on 5 August that a new assembly, integration, and testing centre is to be built in the city of Al Ain to develop and build communication, navigation, and hyperspectral satellites ranging in size between 50 kg and 250 kg.

The centre comes as part of a collaboration between the TEC, Airbus, and the UAE University’s National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC). Airbus is to assist with the design, outfitting, and commissioning of the facility, according to Tawazun, and also to manage the procurement, installation, and operational qualification required for the equipment. The facility is to be operational by the start of 2021.

The UAE will undertake assembly, integration, and testing of satellite systems in Al Ain under a new agreement signed with Airbus. (Getty Images)

Matar Ali Al Romaithi, Chief Economic Development Officer of Tawazun said in a statement that, “The UAE is building and acquiring the knowledge required to become a regional hub for space activities and advanced research and development. This center is an integral part of those plans and consequently Tawazun has worked to make sure that it operates as a sustainable resource for the next five to seven years with a view to becoming permanent.”