Egypt and Saudi Arabia Advance Plans for First Joint Satellite
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have moved closer to the realisation of their first jointly developed satellite, with senior representatives from both countries’ space agencies meeting ahead of the El Alamein International Airshow 2026 to discuss the initiative’s implementation roadmap.
The meeting was held between Dr Eng. Maged Ismail, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, and Eng. Ahmed bin Saleh Al-Ghufaili, representing the Saudi Space Agency. The Egyptian delegation further included Maj. Gen. Eng. Amir Abdel Fattah, Director of Nabta Playa for Space Technologies, an Egyptian Space Agency-affiliated company; Eng. Haitham Medhat, Head of the Central Administration for Satellite Systems Design and Development; and Dr Mohamed Ibrahim, Director of the Space Academy. The Saudi delegation also included Mr Abdulrahman bin Saleh Al-Askar, Director of Protocol at the Saudi Space Agency.
Discussions centred on the design and construction of the first joint Egyptian-Saudi satellite, aimed at harnessing space technologies in support of sustainable development and the shared priorities of both nations.
From Agreement to Execution
The meeting builds on a trajectory of growing bilateral space cooperation. In 2023, the Saudi Space Agency and the Egyptian Space Agency formalised their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding covering peaceful space endeavours. The joint satellite initiative was subsequently approved during a Cabinet session chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz in Jeddah in June 2026, signalling growing momentum behind regional space collaboration as Gulf countries deepen their investments in satellite systems and Earth observation capabilities.
For Saudi Arabia, the project aligns with Vision 2030, which places technology localisation, innovation, and advanced manufacturing at the centre of the Kingdom’s economic transformation agenda. For Egypt, it reflects a broader push to develop domestic space capabilities and position the country as an active contributor to the Arab world’s expanding space sector.
A Developing Story
Further details on the satellite, including its specifications, the division of responsibilities between the two agencies, and where development will take place, have not yet been disclosed. Space in Africa will follow the project’s progress and report further developments as they emerge.