Antaris, the leading AI-driven software platform for the design, simulation, and operation of satellite constellations and space missions, announced on Friday that it has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Saudi Excellence, a Riyadh-based technology company and subsidiary of Al-Ramez International Group.
The partnership will drive business activity and investment in Saudi Arabia, leveraging Saudi Excellence’s relationships and space sector expertise, as well as Antaris’ AI-driven platform for the design, simulation, and operation of satellite constellations.
Together, the two companies are committed to supporting and growing the Kingdom’s sovereign satellite and mission capabilities. Strengthening the local space ecosystem and industrial based are core to Antaris’ work with sovereign nations.
The collaboration builds on Antaris’ open, software-driven approach, which allows in-country manufacturers to integrate their own components into the Antaris Cloud Platform through open APIs and interfaces. This model has already helped Antaris achieve significant market share position in commercial low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite sector in Asian countries and is now being extended to other key geographies worldwide.
“Antaris is making a major investment in establishing business operations in Saudi Arabia,” said Tom Barton, Co-Founder and CEO of Antaris. “We see tremendous opportunity in the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding space sector and broader industrial economy. Saudi Excellence has been a critical partner in advising, assisting, and opening doors to new business opportunities and collaborations in the Kingdom.”
Barton told Asharq Al-Awsat: “According to the Kingdom’s Communications, Space, and Technology Commission (CST), the value of the Saudi Space economy reached approximately $9 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to approximately $32 billion by 2035. It is core to Vision 2030. In addition to spurring direct economic activity in the Kingdom, the space economy is expected to generate exports. Saudi Excellence and Antaris are already working to facilitate individual satellite constellation projects as large as $1 billion.”
“Saudi Arabia is already a regional leader in the space industry and will continue to invest to maintain leadership. Satellite and space technologies are important economically, but also strategically for the creation of sovereign Earth Observation and Communications capability for the Kingdom,” he added.
“The Future Investment Initiative (FII) has a strong track record of bringing global leaders together to set investment priorities and to make tactical progress on specific investment opportunities and deals,” he went on to say. “The FII ‘Investment Day’ is specifically dedicated to making deals. Saudi Excellence and Antaris are aligned with FII key priorities: a core priority is AI, and Antaris offers the first AI for Space platform.”
The ninth edition of FII concluded on Thursday.
Antaris is a Lockheed Martin Ventures portfolio company and benefits from Lockheed Martin’s strong reputation and presence in the Kingdom.
Barton said: “Saudi Excellence and Antaris expect strong Saudi-US cooperation in the Space Industry. The overall relationship between the two countries for technology and defense cooperation is very strong, and we expect further progress as Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, visits US President Donald Trump in the US in mid-November.”
Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Mullahi, Chairman of the Saudi Excellence Holding Company, said: “Our collaboration with Antaris represents a significant step in advancing the Kingdom’s sovereign space capabilities.”
“This collaboration will help support and cultivate a competitive domestic manufacturing supply chain, expand opportunities for Saudi enterprises, and accelerate the Kingdom’s progress toward its Vision 2030 goals in technology and innovation,” he stressed.
“In addition, the agreement builds on Saudi Excellence’s role highlighted in a White House announcement earlier this year, further underscoring the company’s position as a trusted partner in advancing sovereign satellite capabilities for the Kingdom.”
