In a major milestone for regional aerospace innovation, UAE-based space technology company Space42 has inaugurated the Middle East and North Africa’s first-ever High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi.
Spanning 4,500 square metres, the facility is operated by Mira Aerospace, a subsidiary of Space42, and is set to manufacture over 20 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) annually. These UAVs are designed for a range of civil, environmental, and defense applications, aligning with the UAE’s National Space Strategy 2030 and broader efforts to diversify the nation’s economy.
“As global demand for HAPS grows, we’re investing strategically to reinforce our leadership in this emerging sector,” said Khaled Al Marzooqi, CEO of Mira Aerospace. “Building this facility in Abu Dhabi not only strengthens our technical capabilities but also advances our goal of developing sovereign, cost-effective aerospace systems that support both business objectives and national economic growth.”
The facility is part of Space42’s larger push into vertically integrated manufacturing and data infrastructure. It also reflects the UAE’s growing role as a regional leader in aerospace, now the only country in the Middle East with domestic aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
Space42 is also deepening partnerships to enhance its innovation ecosystem. It is collaborating with ICEYE, a global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, to co-produce Earth Observation satellites within the UAE. Earlier this year, Mira Aerospace partnered with XRANGE to launch a permanent testing hub for high-altitude, long-endurance UAVs. Mira also made headlines for becoming the first in the world to demonstrate 5G connectivity from the stratosphere using heavier-than-air HAPS.
