UAE Plans 50 AI Satellites for France
The UAE will build 50 AI-enabled satellites in Abu Dhabi as part of a $1 billion space project in France. Marlan Space and Loft Orbital announced the Altair-Next Gen program on September 9 at the International Space Summit in Paris.
The project will combine Emirati investment and manufacturing with French and European space technology. The consortium also signed the agreement in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Marlan Space, a UAE-based space investor and operator, is leading the consortium. The company operates as a subsidiary of International Holding Company, or IHC.
The initial constellation will contain 50 satellites equipped with optical, radar and other sensors. Furthermore, onboard AI will process observations directly in orbit rather than sending raw imagery to Earth first.
Satellites to Be Manufactured in Abu Dhabi
Orbitworks will manufacture the satellites at its facility in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, or KEZAD. The company was formed in 2024 as a joint venture between Marlan Space and Loft Orbital.
The first 10 satellites are already in production in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, the first AI-enabled satellite is scheduled for launch in October 2026.
The facility also houses satellite operations and can scale production from 10 to 50 satellites. Therefore, Abu Dhabi will play a central role in the project’s manufacturing and operational infrastructure.
Altair-Next Gen will target government users in France, Europe and the UAE. In addition, the constellation will serve commercial and sovereign customers globally.
The satellites will process information while remaining in orbit. As a result, users could receive alerts within seconds when the system detects an event. Conventional satellite systems can take hours to download and process imagery on the ground.
AI Applications Include Disaster Response
The constellation will initially support maritime domain awareness, wildfire detection and disaster response. It will also help monitor ports and other critical infrastructure.
Moreover, Altair-Next Gen will operate through an AI application store. Users can select models from multiple providers and run them on shared satellites. As a result, one constellation can support several programs simultaneously.
French AI company Mistral will provide AI models for the satellites. The system will allow the spacecraft to interpret observations and respond to natural-language instructions.
Loft Orbital will provide satellite platforms, onboard AI, mission software, and constellation operations. Meanwhile, BlackSky will contribute very-high-resolution optical satellite capabilities.
MaiaSpace has also been selected as the project’s preferred launch partner once its commercial launch services become available. Therefore, the program brings together companies from the UAE, France, the United States and wider Europe.
UAE and France Expand Space Cooperation
The project strengthens the UAE’s position in commercial satellite manufacturing and AI-driven space services. It also gives France a major platform to develop sovereign and commercial AI capabilities in orbit.
Dr Hamdullah Mohib, CEO of Marlan Space and Orbitworks, said, “Fifty satellites, in groups with different capabilities working as one system, make this one of the most advanced constellations in the world.”
He added that the program could help the UAE move from a satellite buyer to a provider of satellite services. It could also support engineering skills, intellectual property and a domestic supply chain.
The initiative follows IHC’s agreement to acquire an 80% stake in Marlan Space. IHC announced that transaction on September 8, further expanding its exposure to deep technology and the space economy.
Overall, Altair-Next Gen marks a significant expansion of UAE-France cooperation in space and artificial intelligence. The $1 billion program will combine Abu Dhabi-based satellite production with European technology and global commercial applications.
