Loft Integration & Test Facility in Golden, Colorado. (Photo: Business Wire)

Loft Orbital and Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space established a joint-venture space infrastructure company called Orbitworks in the Middle East. The new firm will be based in the UAE and serve as the first private space infrastructure company in the region.

Loft Orbital and Marlan Space, an affiliate of the International Holding Company (IHC), pledged an initial investment of more than $100 million into Orbitworks, which will produce up to 50 to 500 kilogram satellites every year for commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations.

The new JV said it has secured components for its first ten satellites. Orbitworks’ first satellite platform is expected to be assembled, integrated, and tested by early 2025, with a possible first launch as early as the first quarter of 2026. To meet its ambitious goals, Orbitworks said it will immediately begin construction of a state-of-the-art facility, leverage AI technologies, recruit talent, and partner with local component manufacturers and technology providers in the UAE.

“We have long believed in the dynamism and growth of the UAE’s space sector, and we are proud to be playing a small part in the country’s journey to becoming a space powerhouse,” said Loft Orbital CEO Pierre-Damien Vaujour. “From the moment we first met with Marlan Space, we were excited about their vision for bringing scaled production and operations of LEO satellite constellations to the UAE. We are thrilled to support and partner with all players in the country’s space, satellite, cloud, and AI industries.”