Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space, a new space company affiliated with International Holding Company (IHC), a global diversified conglomerate, also based in Abu Dhabi, has established a joint venture with US-headquartered space infrastructure company Loft Orbital to form Orbitworks, the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company.
Orbitworks will be the first company in the UAE’s space sector to produce commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. With an initial investment of over US$100 million, Orbitworks aims to produce up to fifty 500 kilogram satellites annually.
Loft Orbital, established in 2017, brings extensive expertise, technology, and a strong reputation to the venture, supporting a wide range of missions across telecommunications, earth observation, and scientific research. It says it has developed a standardised satellite platform that can be configured to fly any customer mission.
Orbitworks is set to begin construction of a state-of-the-art facility that will employ advanced hardware, software and industrial technologies for integration and test of satellites.
Orbitworks has secured components for ten satellites, the first of which could be launched as early as the first quarter of 2026. Orbitworks aims to partner with local component manufacturers and technology providers in the UAE, leveraging Loft’s solutions for seamless technology integration.
The first satellite platform is expected to be assembled, integrated, and tested by early 2025. Loft and Marlan have begun recruiting talent both internationally and within the UAE, focusing on hardware, software, test engineering and other aerospace engineering disciplines.