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Tech Firms Form Partnership To Boost UAE’s Space Program

The team of companies aims to enhance the nation’s space tech and exploration potential using remote sensing and Earth Observation (EO) capabilities.

Published

3 years ago

May 23, 2023

Nour Nasir

tech firms form partnership to boost uae's space program

ICEYE

A leading AI-powered geospatial tech company called Bayanat has teamed up with fellow UAE firm and satellite solutions provider Yahsat on a new space program.

The pair will be joined by ICEYE, a well-known Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) producer from Finland, to build cutting-edge remote satellite sensing and Earth Observation (EO) technologies.

Synthetic Aperture Radar technology allows active sensing of the Earth’s surface, and produces high-resolution images that aren’t affected by weather conditions or the sun’s output. In addition, unlike regular imaging satellites, SAR-equipped solutions can capture images both night and day. ICEYE’s SAR satellites offer broad coverage and higher-resolution images than most, providing valuable insights for various applications.

Meanwhile, the Bayanat and Yahsat role in the space program will be to develop a constellation of around five SAR low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The constellation will enable stable data streams for end-to-end SAR applications and provide a wide range of geospatial insights. Between Yahsat’s advanced satellite infrastructure and Bayanat’s data analytics and AI capabilities, the program represents a significant advancement in the UAE’s journey toward building a comprehensive space ecosystem.

Aside from developing remote sensing capabilities, the program also aims to improve in-country satellite manufacturing expertise and enhance the UAE’s space exploration capabilities.

Also Read: Qatar’s Capital Aims To Become A Regional Technology Hub

Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Bayanat, said, “The partnership between Bayanat and Iceye, in collaboration with Yahsat, will drive the development of a sovereign EO ecosystem, whilst contributing to skill development, scientific advancements, and sustained economic growth.” Meanwhile, Ali Al Hashemi, Group CEO of Yahsat, stated, “As part of Yahsat’s active role in empowering the space economy sector in line with the UAE’s Space Strategy 2030, we are pleased to collaborate […] on this ambitious program [to] strengthen the UAE’s leadership in the space sector in the MENA region”.

The new program follows hot on the heels of UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who became the first Arab to perform a spacewalk from the International Space Station (ISS). The historic event lasted for 7.01 hours in the cold vacuum of space, accomplishing key objectives to maintain cabling and insulation on the station’s starboard truss.

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Samsung’s Fold Goes Wide, And The Whole Galaxy Range Gets Pricier

A new titanium build and a first-of-its-kind AI chip for wearables anchor the range, yet native Qi2 charging still isn’t part of the deal.

Published

3 days ago

July 23, 2026

Dana Saadeh

Samsung

Samsung has run its Galaxy foldable and smartwatch reveals in July for several years now, which is likely a deliberate way of jumping early on the autumn hardware calendar. The 2026 event stuck to the same timings, though prices climbed too, albeit unevenly: $100 on the Flip, a new $2,100 Ultra tier above last year’s flagship, and $30 to $50 on the watches.

At the top sits the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra at $2,100, a slab that measures just 4.1mm open and carries a 200MP main sensor, a 5,000mAh battery and an 8-inch interior display. Beneath it, the $1,900 Galaxy Z Fold 8 makes the more interesting bet. Samsung has stepped away from the tall, narrow shape it spent recent generations refining: the Fold 8 folds horizontally, so it’s wider than it is tall, with a 4:3 interior screen that sits about 9mm wider than the Ultra when closed. It drops the telephoto lens but gains battery, at 4,800mAh.

The clamshell Galaxy Z Flip 8 rounds out the phones at $1,200, up from the Flip 7’s $1,100, which was itself up from the $1,000 Flip 5.

All three devices run the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and share a new Flex Titanium construction, a titanium alloy layer set beneath the flexible OLED that Samsung says strengthens display support, absorbs impact and reduces crease visibility. The progress has limits: none of the phones support Qi2 charging natively, 18 months after the Qi2-ready Galaxy S25. That means buyers will still need a magnetic case to get the most from a Qi2 charger.

The wearables move in the same upward direction. The Galaxy Watch 9 ($380 Bluetooth, $430 LTE) and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 ($700) both run Qualcomm’s 3nm Snapdragon Wear Elite, the first wearable chip with a dedicated Hexagon NPU capable of supporting AI models with two billion parameters. The Ultra 2 is 12 percent thinner than its predecessor despite an 800mAh battery and a display reaching 5,000 nits.

Also Read: Dubai Police Finishes 65 Projects, Says AI Is The Next Priority

Pre-orders open today. The devices are set to reach shelves on August 7.