Unveiling the Sky: Exploring Satellite Ownership in the GCC

The GCC relies on satellites to address challenges in agriculture, infrastructure, and disaster management, given its vast desert expanses and harsh climate. These satellites offer real-time data crucial for planning effective solutions. Additionally, as major oil and gas exporters, the GCC region requires robust communication and navigation infrastructure, where satellites play a vital role.

In this post, we will review the main owners of the satellites in the region.

Satellite Industry Overview in the GCC region

The satellite industry in the GCC region has been developing rapidly over the past few years, driven by a growing interest in space exploration and a desire to leverage space technology to address various challenges faced by the region. The GCC countries have invested heavily in the development of space technology, however only 4 countries have their own satellites.

The range of applications of these satellites are mainly: Earth observation, communication, and educational and research purposes. Since 1985, there have been 61 satellites in orbit owned or partly owned by any of the region's countries.

The GCC countries have established partnerships with international space agencies, such as the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos). These partnerships have enabled the GCC countries to leverage the expertise of these agencies and gain access to cutting-edge space technology.

With over 30 satellites launched for communications and 13 for Earth observation, there's a clear emphasis on advancing connectivity and environmental monitoring.

International collaboration has been a key driver, with notable partnerships. The United States has been a major contributor, with around 15 collaborations, including the Emirates Mars Mission. South Korea has had six collaborations, launching the KhalifaSat satellite in 2018. Germany participated in four projects, and in 2021, the UAE launched Falcon Eye-2 with Germany's Airbus Defense and Space for surveillance.

Utilizing international launch vehicles, Russia leads with 19 launches, followed by the United States (11) and the European Space Agency (13). Other contributors include Ukraine, Japan, India, and China.

Despite educational and research satellites being less dominant (around 10 launched), the overall trajectory of the GCC's satellite industry has been marked by a significant surge in launches in 2018. This underscores the region's commitment to leveraging space technology for improved communication infrastructure, environmental monitoring, and scientific research capabilities.

In conclusion, international cooperation, especially with the United States, Germany, South Korea, and others, has been instrumental in propelling the GCC's satellite industry forward. These collaborations have not only enabled the development and launch of satellites but also enhanced the region's overall capabilities in space exploration. The strategic use of international launch vehicles has further streamlined and enhanced the efficiency of satellite deployment for GCC countries.

Main Satellite owners in Saudi Arabia are ARABSAT and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) .

Kindly refer to the Satellite Industry in the GCC report for additional information about other countries.

Regional Cooperation?in Satellites Development

So far, there has been only one cooperation in this domain. Light-1 was a collaborative satellite project between the UAE and Bahrain, aimed at measuring charged particles above thunderstorms. The satellite is designed to study the physical mechanisms behind lightning and thunderstorms and their effects on the Earth's atmosphere.

The satellite was launched in 2021, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite was developed by the UAE's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and Bahrain's National Space Science Agency - NSSA . It is equipped with a detector that measures gamma rays produced by lightning strikes, which can provide valuable information about the electrical and magnetic fields in the Earth's atmosphere.

Read more on Space Collaboration in the region

The research methodology involves gathering information on satellites developed either domestically or through international collaboration. This includes commercial or research-oriented satellites, as well as those dedicated to communication, observation, or research and development (R&D).

By Alex Cresniov / SpaceTech in Gulf