Yahsat wins $7.7m UAE government deal

Company will design and deliver integrated satellite communications and ground control services for federal platforms

Yahsat's Y1B satellite being launched in Kazakhstan. Photo: Mubadala

Al Yah Satellite Communications, better known as Yahsat, secured a contract worth Dh28.3 million ($7.7m) from the UAE government to provide satellite communications for its public platforms.

The Abu Dhabi-listed company will “design and deliver an integrated satcom system” and ground control services through its subsidiary, Yahsat Government Solutions, it said in a statement on Friday.

“This contract award serves as a testament to Yahsat’s position as the preferred partner of the UAE government,” said group chief executive Ali Al Hashemi.

"Yahsat is well poised to anticipate the ever-changing communications needs of governments, enterprises and consumers.”

The satellite operator, a unit of Mubadala Investment Company, raised about $731m from its initial public offering in July.

It sold 975.9 million shares, or 40 per cent of equity through the IPO, which was oversubscribed several times, with significant demand from both qualified institutional and retail investors in the UAE, Yahsat said at the time.

“We are pleased to continue serving our strategic partners — including the UAE government — and look forward to delivering on our ongoing commitment to provide tailored, secure and integrated satcom solutions,” Mr Al Hashemi said.

In February, Yahsat secured a contract worth Dh909.5m to provide managed services to the UAE government for its satellite communications capabilities.

The same month, it also secured a Dh24m contract from Abu Dhabi Ship Building to deliver secure satellite communication solutions.

Yahsat offers multi-mission satellite services in more than 150 countries across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

Its fleet of five satellites reaches more than 80 per cent of the world’s population, enabling critical communications such as broadband connectivity, broadcasting and backhauling, as well as mobility solutions.

One of the major projects that Yahsat is working on is the Thuraya 4 Next Generation satellite [T4-NGS], which is scheduled to be launched next year and is set to commence commercial services in the second half of 2024.