Space42 opens High Altitude Platform Stations manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi
The new facility will significantly enhance Mira Aerospace's production capabilities, drive advanced R&D, support the commercialisation of HAPS technology, and lay the foundation for long-term, sustainable growth.
The state-of-the-art, 4,500-square-meter centre will deliver more than 20 HAPS UAVs annually, supporting civil, environmental, and defence applications. The facility marks a strategic milestone in the company's mission to position the UAE at the forefront of sovereign aerospace and space-based connectivity innovation.
Contributing to the UAE's National Space Strategy 2030, Space42 is playing a critical role in the nation's efforts to build sovereign space technology, manufacturing, and research and development capabilities. Space is a cornerstone of the UAE's technology roadmap, accelerating innovation and strengthening national resilience in advanced industries, and the new HAPS facility is a direct reflection of and commitment to this national priority.
Khaled Al Marzooqi, CEO of Mira Aerospace, Space42, said, 'As the global demand for HAPS accelerates, Space42 is making strategic investments to strengthen our leadership in this growing market. The decision to build our new HAPS manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to creating reliable, cost-effective systems with advanced space technology and plays a central role in developing sovereign capabilities that support our long-term business objectives and the UAE's broader economic goals.'
The HAPS facility is part of a series of targeted investments by Space42 to expand vertically integrated manufacturing and data infrastructure. The company is also collaborating with ICEYE, a global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, to co-produce Earth Observation (EO) satellites in the UAE.
These efforts will directly advance the UAE's EO Space Program, designed to build national capabilities in satellite-based remote sensing. The UAE is currently the only country in the Middle East and one of the few space-faring nations with domestic aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
Major investments, such as the HAPS facility, fit into Space42's broader strategy to efficiently scale the business and expand impact across the global industry. By developing in-house competencies that evolve with market needs, the new facility provides a competitive edge and creates long-term growth value for Space42 and its stakeholders.
Designed to centralise global operations and meet the rising demand for HAPS solutions, the facility supports Space42's strategic initiative to be the preferred partner for premium geospatial data. With local manufacturing capabilities, the business is strongly positioned to build differentiated competencies, ensure operations scale efficiently, and continue to demonstrate strong financial stewardship.
The new manufacturing hub will be the latest in a series of major milestones for Mira Aerospace. In February 2025, the company partnered with XRANGE, a multi-domain Training, Testing, and Evaluation (TT&E) facility, to establish a permanent testing hub for high-altitude, long-endurance UAV trials. In October 2024, Mira Aerospace developed two advanced payloads to support various applications, including environmental monitoring, disaster management, urban planning, and agriculture.
The EO payload offers sharp and precise data to aid critical decision-making, and the Telecommunications payload provides direct-to-device connectivity and data relay between aerial and ground platforms. Space42 is one of the leading companies globally in the HAPS domain, and the first in the world to demonstrate 5G connectivity from the stratosphere using heavier-than-air HAPS.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Web Release
an hour ago
- Web Release
Screenshot 2025-07-22 162540
UAE-Born Brand Almal Real Estate Development to Make International Debut with the Announcement of 'The One by Almal' in Bali, Indonesia
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid inspects Mina Al Hamriya Port
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, paid a visit to Mina Al Hamriya Port on Tuesday to inspect the project's continuing development. During the tour, the Dubai Ruler was briefed on the port's strategic role in supporting the UAE's food security and enabling trade across the Arabian Gulf, particularly in perishables and livestock, state news agency Wam reported. 'We're transforming our ports into dynamic gateways that not only connect the world and accelerate the flow of goods but also drive innovation and opportunity,' said Sheikh Mohammed. 'Our goal isn't just to compete, but to lead global trade with a transformative vision and new standards. We want Dubai to be the first choice for traders, the trusted route for commerce, and the most dynamic hub in the world's supply chains.'
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
ADQ completes acquisition of majority stake in Aramex
ADQ, an active sovereign investor focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains, announced on Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of logistics provider Aramex. Adq said in a statement that the voluntary tender offer for Aramex, submitted by its wholly owned indirect subsidiary Q Logistics Holding LLC, has become unconditional. ADQ will now become the majority shareholder in Aramex, with an ownership of 63.16 per cent of shares when combined with the shareholding held by AD Ports Group, in which ADQ holds a majority stake. This follows the receipt of all required antitrust and foreign direct investment regulatory approvals, as well as statutory exemptions and waivers from relevant governmental authorities within and outside the UAE, along with the satisfaction (or waiver) of all other conditions to the offer. The acquisition of a controlling stake in Aramex strengthens ADQ's position in the services layer of the logistics ecosystem, which includes express delivery, freight forwarding, third-party logistics, and warehousing. These functions are critical to enabling seamless trade flows and linking transport infrastructure to end users. With operations in over 65 countries, a leading trucking network in the GCC, and 800,000 sqm of global warehousing, Aramex brings scale, capabilities, and geographic reach. Its integration into ADQ's portfolio accelerates the development of a fully integrated, multimodal logistics platform that supports regional trade and economic growth. Mansour AlMulla, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of ADQ, commented: 'ADQ's majority shareholding in Aramex marks a strategic step toward advancing our vision to build a globally integrated logistics platform anchored in the UAE. Aramex brings strong capabilities and operational depth that complement our existing investments across air, sea, and land infrastructure. Its addition enhances the services layer of the logistics value chain and supports the development of end-to-end trade and supply chain solutions. We believe Aramex is well positioned to unlock long-term value through greater integration with ADQ's broader portfolio, and we are confident in its ability to deliver sustainable growth.' Aramex will become part of ADQ's Transport & Logistics cluster, which plays a central role in advancing multimodal connectivity and reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a global transport and logistics hub. The payment of consideration to Aramex Shareholders is to take place on July 25, and Aramex Shares will be registered in the name of Q Logistics Holding LLC the same day.
