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Broadcast Pro
20-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
How the UAE is forging a new frontier in space technology
Through Space42, the UAE is fusing AI, geospatial intelligence and satellite technology to build sovereign space capabilities with international reach. CEO Hasan Al Hosani outlines how the company is advancing the nations strategic ambitions while delivering real-world impact across defence, disaster response and autonomous mobility. In the global race to harness space technologies for Earth-based impact, few companies are advancing with the scale and purpose of Space42. Formed through the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat, two prominent UAE-based technology leaders, Space42 has rapidly emerged as a new kind of SpaceTech player: vertically integrated, AI-driven and mission-oriented. With a remit that spans geospatial intelligence, satellite-enabled communications, and autonomous systems, the company is not just elevating national capabilities but also helping shape the future of space-powered industries worldwide. Space42 brings together complementary capabilities in a way that very few companies globally can match, says Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Bayanat Smart Solutions, now part of Space42. What differentiates us is our end-to-end approach. We unify satellite communications, AI-powered analytics and geospatial data in a single sovereign platform. Thats our core advantage. This integration is not simply about technical capability. It enables Space42 to deliver mission-critical solutions across a wide spectrum of sectors from defense and disaster response to climate resilience and autonomous mobility. Instead of siloed services, the company offers predictive insights that inform smarter, faster decisions. At the heart of this ecosystem is GIQ, Space42s AI analytics platform. Designed to process immense volumes of satellite and sensor data, GIQ turns raw information into real-time intelligence. This capability proved invaluable during the 2024 UAE rainstorms, where Space42 integrated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and digital twin models to provide real-time flood detection and post-event damage assessments. The data enabled emergency responders to prioritise resources, accelerate recovery and deploy aid with precision. No human team can manage the velocity and volume of satellite data we now collect, says Al Hosani. Thats where AI becomes indispensable. It filters signal from noise to inform decision-making when timing matters most. The companys AI-driven systems are also transforming operations in sectors like maritime surveillance and energy. For example, Space42s platform is used by coast guards to detect illegal fishing, monitor vessel movement and track environmental hazards such as oil spills. In the energy sector, the companys Rig Move Project, developed in partnership with AIQ, uses satellite imagery and AI to optimise rig allocation and reduce downtime in oilfield operations. The future of SpaceTech lies not in just data collection, but in intelligent interpretation, Al Hosani emphasises. Our tools help governments and industries make real-time, high-confidence decisions, whether in crisis response or long-term planning. This philosophy of integration extends to Space42s broader operating model. By combining the deep analytics and mapping expertise of Bayanat with Yahsats communication satellite infrastructure, Space42 has broadened its ability to serve emerging needs in sustainability, autonomous transport and environmental monitoring. In the sustainability space, Space42 uses SAR satellites and high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) to monitor environmental conditions in real time. When combined with Digital Twin technology and AI forecasting, these systems allow governments to model flooding, drought and rising sea levels with high accuracy, thereby informing policies that reduce climate risk. In mobility, the company is advancing autonomous systems through the fusion of AI, high-definition mapping and satellite communications. Its work with TXAI, the regions first Level 4 autonomous vehicle, is moving toward Level 5 deployment in Abu Dhabis urban zones. Were building the geospatial infrastructure that powers autonomy, says Al Hosani. Its not just about making cars self-driving its about enabling safe, scalable mobility for the future. Space42 is also pursuing partnerships that align with its vision of scalable, impactful innovation. There have been joint ventures with technology leaders like Oxa and Vay in autonomous driving and defense collaborations with entities like EDGE and FADA, Our collaborations arent just extensions of Yahsat or Bayanats legacy, Al Hosani notes. Theyre driven by a clear roadmap: to build a sovereign, AI-powered space platform that delivers value across society. This includes contributing to military and defense capabilities through advanced geospatial intelligence. Space42s multi-orbit satellite communications and SAR imaging provide real-time situational awareness for modern military operations. High-altitude platforms and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) supplement satellite data with persistent imaging, enabling security forces to detect terrain changes and respond swiftly in dynamic environments. Space42s AI engine, GIQ, aggregates inputs from satellites, UAVs, sensors and radar to support everything from threat detection to autonomous mission planning. This combination of space-based intelligence and ground-level execution is transforming how national defense strategies are formulated. Were helping militaries shift from reactive to predictive postures, says Al Hosani. With AI and geospatial intelligence, they can anticipate threats, allocate resources efficiently, and act with speed and confidence. These same principles apply to Space42s role in developing smart cities. As urban centres become more complex and data-rich, Space42 sees a critical opportunity to embed geospatial intelligence into the core fabric of municipal operations. The companys Foresight SAR constellation provides persistent, high-resolution imaging that supports urban planning, land use optimisation and infrastructure resilience. Smart cities need more than sensors and appsthey need insight at the systems level, Al Hosani explains. By integrating satellite imagery, IoT inputs and AI, we help city planners respond to challenges in real time and anticipate future needs. Beyond the UAE, Space42 is leveraging its platform to expand into underserved markets across Africa and the Global South. With connectivity gaps still prevalent, particularly in education and healthcare, the company is helping connect remote communities through satellite broadband and tailored infrastructure projects. In Zimbabwe, for instance, Space42 has connected over 1,300 schools, with plans to reach nearly two million students. There are no limits to how space data can support development, says Al Hosani. Were applying the same intelligence infrastructure that supports governments and oil companies to uplift education, healthcare and agriculture in emerging regions. This international momentum is matched by Space42s domestic role in advancing the UAEs national space agenda. Under the UAE Space Strategy 2030, the country is investing heavily in sovereign space infrastructure and research capabilities. Space42 has a long-term mandate to provide secure satellite communications to the UAE government until 2043. The UAEs ambitions are bold, and we are proud to help realise them, Al Hosani says. From enabling autonomous mobility to building sovereign space infrastructure, Space42 is not just participating in the space economywere helping define it. As the company scales, its focus is to lead with conviction, scale with discipline and drive long-term value for shareholders and society. Space42s growth model emphasises capability-building, capital discipline and global relevance. Its blend of AI, geospatial science and strategic foresight positions it not only as a national asset but as a global contender in the next chapter of the space economy. This isnt about space for spaces sake. Its about how we use space-based technologies to solve Earths most urgent problemswith intelligence, speed, and purpose. Thats the future were building, Al Hosani concludes.
Al Arabiya
30-04-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
UAE using AI, space tech to revolutionize, ramp-up cloud seeding operations
The UAE is revolutionizing its cloud seeding program from experimental technology into a data-driven operation using AI and space tech that forms a critical component of the nation's water security strategy, according to experts at the country's leading space technology company. In a region receiving less than 100 millimeters of rainfall annually and facing growing water scarcity concerns, the UAE is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and Earth Observation (EO) technologies to maximize the effectiveness of its weather modification efforts. 'AI and satellite imagery have turned the UAE's cloud seeding efforts from guesswork into a precise, data-driven tool for weather modification,' Dr. Prashanth Marpu, Chief Technology Officer at Bayanat Smart Solutions, which operates under Space42, the UAE's national space technology company, told Al Arabiya English. The advancements come one year after unprecedented rainfall caused significant flooding across parts of the UAE, highlighting both the potential and risks associated with weather modification technologies. The UAE has conducted cloud seeding operations for more than two decades – with as many as 300 cloud-seeding missions carried out across the country in 2024, according to the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science – National Center of Meteorology (UAEREP-NCM) – but recent technological developments have elevated these efforts to new levels of sophistication and effectiveness. 'What was once a nascent practice is now guided by predictive analytics, real-time modelling, and advanced environmental monitoring,' Marpu said. Space42 integrates synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites and high-resolution optical sensors to provide continuous monitoring of atmospheric and ground conditions. GIQ, the company's AI-powered platform, processes these inputs, which forecasts cloud behavior, wind dynamics, and terrain saturation. The system operates in three phases, explained Marpu. 'First, our Foresight SAR Constellation provides high-resolution, all-weather imaging, complemented by ongoing High Altitude Platform Stations monitoring. Second, GIQ aggregates and analyzes these data streams. Third, the platform generates actionable insights that guide authorities in deploying targeted weather modification efforts.' The UAE's intensified focus on water security comes amid rising water usage across the arid country. In 2022, the total quantity of water consumption in UAE was approximately 1.75 billion cubic meters – rising from 1.37 billion cubic meters in 2010, according to research company Statista. The UAE's Water Security Strategy 2036 has set targets for reducing water demand by 21 percent and increasing the reuse of treated water to 95 percent. 'In the UAE, where per capita water consumption ranks among the highest globally and over 80 percent of freshwater comes from desalination, water security has become a national priority,' said Marpu. 'The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 sets out clear goals to reduce overall demand, diversify sustainable water supplies, and enhance emergency preparedness.' As part of this goal, cloud seeding has evolved from an experimental approach to what Marpu described as an operational capability driven by data, precision, and measurable impact. Learning from 2024 floods Last April's extreme rainfall event – the highest-ever recorded rainfall in more than 75 years – which caused widespread disruption across the UAE, served as both a challenge and an opportunity for the country's weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities. Space42's systems were put to the test during the 2024 floods. 'Digital Twin simulations predicted high-risk zones ahead of the storm, giving authorities time to prepare,' Marpu said. 'As the storm unfolded, SAR satellites provided real-time imagery through dense cloud cover, while GIQ processed the data instantly.' This real-time intelligence enabled emergency teams to deploy resources rapidly, prioritize evacuations, and plan supply routes once the storm passed, according to Space42. The company claims similar technology has been applied to sandstorm forecasting. 'During the Touz sandstorm in April 2025, Space42's customized dust monitoring model tracked dust emission, transport, and deposition, delivering early alerts that allowed governments to issue public health warnings and mitigate the storm's peak impact,' Marpu explained. These applications demonstrate how the same technologies being deployed for cloud seeding can be repurposed for broader climate risk management. AI-led cloud seeding missions A key advantage of AI-driven cloud seeding is the technology's ability to learn from each mission, creating a continuously improving system. 'With every seeding mission, we collect new data that strengthens future predictions and seeding plans,' said Dr. Marpu. 'Over time, this builds a smarter, more cost-effective program that can support national goals for water security and climate resilience.' This feedback loop is transforming cloud seeding from a static intervention into what Space42 describes as a 'continuously responsive system.' The current approach uses a combination of satellite data, weather forecasting, and AI to identify optimal cloud seeding windows, ensuring efforts are targeted and effective while reducing waste. 'Our AI platform, GIQ, integrates real-time satellite imagery, weather data, and ground-level information to forecast environmental conditions,' Marpu said. 'It helps identify the optimal cloud seeding windows, ensuring efforts are targeted and effective, reducing waste and improving results.' AI is expected to take on an even more prominent role in weather modification operations. 'AI is set to make weather modification smarter, faster, and more adaptive. What is emerging today will become standard practice within the next decade,' Marpu predicted. 'In the near term, AI will coordinate end-to-end cloud seeding missions, detect optimal atmospheric conditions, chart flight paths, and direct unmanned aerial vehicle-based payload releases with minimal human input.' This automation is expected to reduce response times, increase precision, and improve overall mission efficiency. The long-term vision is even more ambitious. 'Looking further ahead, AI systems will become self-learning. Drawing on live atmospheric data, seasonal climate trends, and mission histories, these models will adjust deployment strategies in real-time, modifying seeding efforts mid-flight based on evolving conditions,' said Marpu. This evolution would represent a significant advancement in weather modification technology, potentially making such operations more economically viable and environmentally responsible. Beyond cloud seeding The technologies being deployed for cloud seeding have applications that extend far beyond weather modification, according to Space42. 'Advanced Earth Observation and AI technologies open new frontiers in climate risk management,' Marpu said. 'Our combination of SAR satellite imagery, HAPS monitoring, and AI-powered analytics supports a range of climate-related applications. Beyond optimizing cloud seeding, these systems help forecast floods, monitor drought conditions, and model long-term environmental changes such as sea-level rise.' Space42 is also expanding into marine conservation through partnerships with government entities and other organizations. 'One example is our partnership with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, OceanX, and M42 to support marine biodiversity and fisheries conservation,' said Marpu. 'By deploying Digital Twins and GIQ, we help map ocean ecosystems, monitor environmental conditions, and provide a clearer picture of marine life, supporting informed conservation strategies and sustainable marine resource planning.' While the technologies supporting cloud seeding operations have advanced significantly, measuring the precise impact of these interventions remains challenging. Research from the National Center of Meteorology has suggested that cloud seeding can increase rainfall by 15–30 percent in a clean atmosphere, and by up to 14 percent in a dusty atmosphere. However, isolating the effects of cloud seeding from natural rainfall variability requires sophisticated modeling and long-term data collection. Space42's systems aim to address this challenge by providing more comprehensive monitoring before, during, and after cloud seeding operations. 'Our system models real-time environmental conditions, pinpoints the most effective cloud seeding windows, and tracks water distribution outcomes, ensuring each intervention contributes meaningfully to national water security,' Marpu said.
