An agreement between France’s CNES and the UAE-developed Altair satellite constellation adds a commercial dimension to a partnership that already spans lunar exploration, satellite navigation, and space technology. 

[For more news, click here]

France’s National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) secured dedicated capacity on the Altair satellite constellation in August 2026 under a multi-year agreement. Developed by Orbitworks, a joint venture between UAE-based Marlan Space and French-American company Loft Orbital, Altair is being manufactured at a facility in Abu Dhabi. Its first satellite, Altair-1, reached orbit on October 1, bringing the project another step forward. 

The constellation is designed for AI-enabled Earth observation. For the UAE, its development supports efforts to build domestic satellite manufacturing capabilities. For France, the agreement provides access to a constellation being developed in the Emirates. It also adds a commercial arrangement to a relationship that has largely developed through institutional cooperation and joint technology projects. 

The two countries have worked together in space for more than a decade, but their activities now extend across several parts of the industry. CNES and the UAE Space Agency signed a framework agreement in 2015 covering Earth observation, satellite technologies, exploration, and talent development. In 2018, CNES opened a permanent representation at the French Embassy in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first foreign space agency to establish a representative office in the UAE. 

From lunar exploration to satellite navigation 

One of the joint projects is the Rashid-2 lunar rover, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). CNES is providing CASPEX imaging technology and contributing to image processing and mission operations. The project brings French technical expertise into an Emirati-led lunar exploration program. 

Cooperation also includes LEONAV, a prototype low-Earth-orbit constellation for positioning, navigation, and timing. CNES and the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) have been working on the project since 2022, with French companies including U-Space, Safran, and Thales involved. 

These projects cover different areas of space technology, from imaging for lunar exploration to navigation systems. The Altair agreement adds satellite capacity and commercial services to that work, giving the relationship a broader industrial scope. 

“Our cooperation has come a long way. What began with major industrial programmes has evolved into a more balanced relationship, where science, technology and sovereign capabilities stand alongside industry, with each side bringing its own strengths. Today, we are moving towards co-development, co-industrialisation and shared capabilities. We are no longer simply working alongside one another, we are building together. The French Space Days are a concrete illustration of this shared ambition.” said France’s ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Marie Audouard 

French companies meet potential Emirati partners 

The latest phase of cooperation was the focus of French Space Days UAE 2026, held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from October 12 to 14. Business France and CNES organized the program with the Embassy of France to the UAE, bringing 15 French companies together with Emirati space organizations, government representatives, and potential business partners. 

The delegation included companies working in satellite systems, Earth observation, telecommunications, launch technologies, and orbital services. Exail, Unseenlabs, and U-Space were among the participants. The program opened at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) in Abu Dhabi, where discussions covered sovereign space capabilities, space-data applications, connectivity and operations in the New Space economy, and the protection of critical space assets. 

Company presentations and business-to-business meetings were followed by visits to Space42 and Orbitworks in Abu Dhabi, as well as a session at MBRSC in Dubai. A reception at the Residence of France brought together representatives from government, space agencies, research institutions, and industry. 

“The space sector has become a strategic driver of economic growth, technological advancement and national resilience. Through initiatives such as the French Space Days UAE, we are pleased to support dialogue between leading French and Emirati actors and encourage partnerships that contribute to the development of the global space ecosystem.” said Dr. Sultan Mohammed Al-Nuaimi, Director General of ECSSR 

For French companies, the meetings offered an opportunity to discuss work with Emirati organizations involved in satellite manufacturing, communications, and other space activities. The UAE, meanwhile, can draw on French experience across the industry as it develops its own capabilities. 

The Altair agreement shows that cooperation has already extended into a commercial arrangement, while Rashid-2 and LEONAV involve collaboration on specific technologies. Whether French Space Days leads to further contracts will depend on the discussions between companies and the projects they decide to pursue. 

Related Articles 

UAE Targets 269 Justitia, but the Real Mission Is Building a Space Power 

ICEYE Appoints UAE Chief Executive as Sovereign Space Intelligence Expands into the Gulf 

CABSAT and SATExpo Close With Space Investment and Connectivity in Focus