Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
In a first for the MENA region, a manufacturing facility for High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) has been established in Abu Dhabi, it was announced on Monday.
Mira Aerospace - the High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) subsidiary of UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech firm Space42 - made the announcement at Make in the Emirates, marking a major step in advancing the UAE's sovereign aerospace and space-based connectivity capabilities.
In an interview with Aletihad, Khaled Al Marzooqi, CEO of Mira Aerospace, Space42, noted that the HAPS manufacturing facility - spanning 4,500sqm - is designed to deliver over 20 high-altitude, solar-powered UAVs annually, backed by a $10 million investment.
"This is the type of pioneering innovation that Space42 invests in," he said. "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."
Occupying a unique niche in the aerospace landscape, HAPS are unmanned vehicles (UAVs) that can operate in the stratosphere on solar power and fly continuously for long durations. Studies have referred to them as the "missing link" between satellites and aircraft.
"Satellites don't provide real-time data, and drones lack the endurance," Al Marzooqi explained. "Our HAPS solutions close that gap by delivering persistent coverage, using only solar power, which is both sustainable and cost-effective."
He also noted that the platform's ability to maintain a stationary position over specific areas for extended periods can offer unique advantages in environmental monitoring, disaster relief, urban planning, and agriculture.
Mira Aerospace is among the very few companies in the world that offer this technology – an advantage that strengthens its competitive edge, according to Al Marzooqi.
A Pillar of UAE's National Space Strategy 2030
The new manufacturing centre directly supports the UAE's National Space Strategy 2030, which outlines a vision to transform the nation into a global hub for space innovation and sovereign capability development.
Localising production and innovation is central to this mission, Al Marzooqi said.
"Manufacturing in the UAE allows us to control quality, grow organically, and build deep technical knowledge," he said. "It aligns with our ambition to be a leading contributor to the national economy and technological independence."
In line with the UAE's climate goals, the HAPS system is powered entirely by solar energy, making it an environment-friendly alternative to fuel-reliant aerial platforms, Al Marzooqi added.
Enabling AI-Powered Aerospace Innovation
Mira Aerospace is also leveraging Space42's AI platforms to maximise the value of the data collected by its HAPS fleet.
"These systems cover vast territories and generate massive data streams," said Al Marzooqi. "With AI, we can analyse that data in real-time, providing instant insights that enhance decision-making across sectors."
Looking ahead, the company is exploring integration with other autonomous systems, including unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and maritime drones, to create a fully autonomous, multi-domain ecosystem spanning land, sea, and air.
Scaling for Strategic Global Impact
The HAPS manufacturing centre is one of several strategic investments by Space42 aimed at deepening vertical integration across aerospace manufacturing and data infrastructure.
The company is also partnering with ICEYE, a global SAR (synthetic aperture radar) leader, to co-produce Earth observation satellites in the UAE.
"These efforts will directly advance the UAE's EO Space Programme, 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," Space 42 said in a statement made available to Aletihad.
Mira Aerospace's latest innovation milestones also include launching a multi-domain Training, Testing, and Evaluation (TT&E) facility in February 2025, in partnership with XRANGE, to establish a permanent testing hub for high-altitude, long-endurance UAV trials.
In October 2025, the company developed two advanced payloads launched in October 2024: one for high-resolution Earth observation and another for stratospheric telecommunications, enabling connectivity even in disaster-hit zones.
