Fieldfisher advises on pioneering space programme in UAE
Locations
Fieldfisher's Space Projects Group advises ICEYE on its ambitious programme with Bayanat to broaden commercial opportunities across the UAE space-ecosystem.
Fieldfisher's award winning Satellite and Space Projects group has advised ICEYE, a renowned SAR satellite manufacturer based in Finland on its strategic agreement with Bayanat, an ADX listed public company and leading provider of AI-powered geospatial solutions.
The transaction will deliver a comprehensive space programme aimed at building national satellite remote sensing and Earth Observation (EO) capabilities within the UAE to commercially address business opportunities in the local and global EO market. The programme also includes key participation from Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider (ADX: YAHSAT).
SAR is an active sensing system that illuminates the Earth’s surface and measures the reflected signal to generate high-resolution images. Unlike traditional optical imaging satellites, SAR can capture images day and night, regardless of weather conditions or solar illumination.
Bayanat’s programme aims to develop a constellation of multiple SAR low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide a consistent data stream for end-to-end solutions for SAR applications. The programme is a steppingstone towards realizing a broader space-ecosystem in the UAE, including the development of in-country satellite manufacturing capabilities.
It will deliver a range of strategic benefits for the nation, including access to sovereign SAR data acquisition, enhancing data privacy, and further building the nation’s resident capabilities for space exploration.
John Worthy, partner and head of Satellite and Space Projects at Fieldfisher comments: "Continuing our long tradition of working with some of the world's leading space businesses on innovative programmes, it has been exciting to support ICEYE's latest strategic collaboration to expand the earth observation opportunities in the UAE and beyond. Given the developments across the sector at present, we see the potential for many more influential transactions in the coming months and years, leveraging the complementary benefits of space and terrestrial technologies."