The UAE has vision of becoming a global leader in space and advanced technologies, and it is wasting no time in implementing that vision. Abu Dhabi-based Orbitworks is the Middle East’s first commercial satellite integrator, producing in the UAE, and building its own AI-enabled Earth observation constellation, called Altair. Equipped with optical, infrared, thermal and RF-sensing capabilities and onboard AI processing, Altair will offer analysis-ready intelligence for applications including environmental monitoring, disaster response, land and coastal-use analysis, maritime domain awareness, and resource and infrastructure assessment. Altair will be made up of 10 satellites. The first of these, Altair-1, was recently flown on an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter from Dubai (DWC) to Los Angeles (LAX), ready to be launched in OCT26. The carrier’s transport solution, Aerospace and Engineering, was developed precisely for this kind of fragile commodity, and is one of its fastest-growing products. A dedicated Emirates SkyCargo team ensures end-to-end transport and compliance with environmental and safety regulations. Emirates is well-versed in satellite transport, having already transported Khalifasat, the first satellite ever developed and built by UAE engineers, from Dubai to South Korea, eight years ago. Last year, it carried the Arab Satellite 813 from Dubai to Shanghai, China, from where it was launched on 10DEC25. So far, this year, the airline has transported more than 6,000 tons of aerospace and advanced engineering cargo.
Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, announced: “Emirates SkyCargo is proud to support Orbitworks at this significant moment and contribute to the UAE’s growing reputation as a global hub for innovation, advanced technologies and specialized logistics. Transporting highly sensitive and technologically advanced cargo requires precision and expertise and we are well positioned through decades of deep expertise to support this critical mission. The movement of Altair-1 from the UAE to the United States ahead of its launch also underlines the role of specialized air cargo solutions in supporting the global aerospace sector.” Schahan Sediqi, General Manager, Orbitworks, stated: “Altair-1 is the product of hard work by an incredible team, and today marks a historic moment, not just for Orbitworks, but for the UAE’s ambitions in space. We could not have reached this point without in-country partners like Emirates SkyCargo, whose care and expertise got Altair safely from Dubai to Los Angeles. We are incredibly proud of what our team has built, and we now look forward to October, when Altair-1 will launch into orbit and begin its mission.”
