SkyCargo Newsroom

Emirates SkyCargo transports Orbitworks’ Altair-1, the first commercial AI-enabled satellite developed and manufactured in the UAE

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:54:42 +0200

Satellite flown from Dubai to Los Angeles on Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter ahead of launch in October 2026

Dubai, UAE, 13 August 2026- Emirates SkyCargo has completed the transport of Altair-1, the UAE’s first commercial AI-enabled earth observation satellite. Part of Orbitworks’ Altair constellation, the movement of the satellite highlights a landmark achievement in the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in space and advanced technologies. Altair-1 was flown on an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter aircraft from Dubai (DWC) airport to Los Angeles (LAX) ahead of its scheduled launch in October 2026.

Altair is a multi-sensor satellite constellation developed and manufactured in the UAE by Orbitworks. The system is equipped with optical, infrared, thermal and RF sensing capabilities and onboard AI processing. With advanced imaging payloads, optimised orbital design, frequent revisit rates and consistent data acquisition, Altair will provide analysis-ready intelligence for applications including environmental monitoring, disaster response, land and coastal-use analysis, maritime domain awareness, and resource and infrastructure assessment. The satellite transported by Emirates SkyCargo is the first of 10 that will form the Altair constellation.

The transportation of Altair highlights Emirates SkyCargo’s expertise in flying highly sensitive and specialised cargo under its Aerospace and Engineering vertical. A dedicated Emirates SkyCargo team managed the end to end transport of the satellite, maintaining rigorous environmental and safety controls and delivering on schedule.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo said: “Emirates SkyCargo is proud to support Orbitworks at this significant moment and contribute to the UAE’s growing reputation as a global hub for innovation, advanced technologies and specialised logistics. Transporting highly sensitive and technologically advanced cargo requires precision and expertise and we are well positioned through decades of deep expertise to support this critical mission. The movement of Altair-1 from the UAE to the United States ahead of its launch also underlines the role of specialised air cargo solutions in supporting the global aerospace sector.”

Schahan Sediqi, General Manager, Orbitworks said: “Altair-1 is the product of hard work by an incredible team, and today marks a historic moment, not just for Orbitworks, but for the UAE’s ambitions in space. We could not have reached this point without in-country partners like Emirates SkyCargo, whose care and expertise got Altair safely from Dubai to Los Angeles. We are incredibly proud of what our team has built, and we now look forward to October, when Altair-1 will launch into orbit and begin its mission.”

Emirates SkyCargo has extensive experience transporting satellites and other highly sensitive aerospace equipment worldwide. Most recently, the air cargo carrier transported Arab Satellite 813 from Dubai to its launch site near Shanghai, China. In 2018, the air cargo carrier made history by transporting Khalifasat, the first satellite developed and built by UAE engineers from Dubai to South Korea. Emirates SkyCargo’s dedicated solution for transporting Aerospace and Engineering cargo is one of the fastest growing verticals in its portfolio of specialised products. In 2026, over 6,000 tonnes of aerospace and advanced engineering cargo have been moved across the world by the air cargo carrier.

Emirates SkyCargo has embarked on an ambitious programme of fleet and network expansion. Since March 2026, the cargo carrier has taken delivery of six Boeing 777-F production freighters and one Boeing 777-300ERSF converted from an Emirates passenger aircraft. The carrier is slated to receive a further four Boeing 777-F production freighters and one additional converted freighter later this year. Emirates SkyCargo’s expanded freighter fleet has allowed the cargo carrier to boost its global freighter network to over 60 destinations, providing customers with access to vital maindeck cargo capacity as well as flexibility and agility to navigate global supply chains.

About Emirates SkyCargo

Emirates SkyCargo is the cargo arm of the world's largest international airline, Emirates. Through its state-of-the-art hub in Dubai, Emirates SkyCargo transports cargo to over 150 destinations across a global network spanning six continents. The air cargo carrier offers customers cargo capacity on its modern fleet of all widebody Boeing 777, Airbus A380, Airbus A350 aircraft and dedicated Boeing 777-F and Boeing 777-300ERSF freighters.

Emirates SkyCargo acts as a global conveyor, connecting businesses with their customers and suppliers worldwide by transporting essential commodities including pharmaceuticals, food and other perishables, e-commerce goods and much more quickly, safely, and reliably.

About Orbitworks

Orbitworks Satellites Manufacturing– L.L.C.– S.P.C. is a UAE-based satellite manufacturing and space services company focused on developing cost-effective, high-performance space systems. Established in 2024 and based in Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD Group), Orbitworks is the Middle East’s first commercial satellite manufacturer, formed through a strategic partnership between Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space and San Francisco-headquartered Loft Orbital. Orbitworks enables broader access to space through integrated satellite platforms, constellations, and Earth Observation services tailored to evolving mission needs.

Emirates SkyCargo hosts discussion on the future of air freight in global trade at MC13

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 09:44:00 +0100

Event brought together leading world experts to tackle the hot topics of logistics, global trade and supply-chain efficiency
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi: “Today’s important discussion underlined the potential impact of advanced technologies on global trade – and the urgency with which we need to now integrate them”

Dubai, UAE, March 1, 2024 – Emirates SkyCargo, one of the largest international cargo airlines, has hosted discussions on the hot topics in logistics and world trade and the challenges faced by the global supply chains, on the sidelines of the 13^th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference (WTO MC13), hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) in the UAE capital. The event has brought together senior leaders across industries to provide a macro-view of the challenges, opportunities, and untapped potential of global logistics.

Under the title, Security, Sustainability and Digitalisation: A New Era for Trade and Cargo, the event was programmed by Economist Impact. It delved into the patterns of modern trade that see trillions of dollars’ worth of goods move across the world every day. With global supply chains poised for change, the event has also explored the impact of geopolitical disruption, the growing demand for sustainable solutions, the intersection for technology and security, and the critical requirements for robust, resilient supply chains, underpinned by air freight.

Commenting on the central themes of the event, His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and MC13 Chair, said it has become paramount to embrace new technologies to improve supply-chain efficiency and sustainability. “By leveraging the new generation of trade tech tools, we have the opportunity to not only strengthen global supply chains but make them more efficient and, as a result, more able to contribute to our efforts to combat climate change. As we outline in our new Trade-Sustain-AI initiative, technologies such as artificial intelligence can enhance freight movements, predict adverse or extreme weather events, and support inventory management, all of which support our efforts to develop a smarter, more transparent trading system. Today’s important discussion underlined the potential impact of advanced technologies on global trade – and the urgency with which we need to now integrate them.”

Setting the foundation on the nexus points between trade, investment, and geopolitics, Simon Evenett, a world renowned expert on trade and Professor at Switzerland’s University of St Gallen was the keynote speaker, followed by a fireside conversation moderated by Elizabeth Mackey, Senior Manager, New Globalisation, Economist Impact.

Following this, a panel of industry leaders from some of the world’s biggest and most reputable organisations discussed the outlook of global trade. Panellists included Marion Jansen, Director of the Trade and Agriculture Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Pierre Sauve, Senior Trade Specialist from the World Bank; Lisa Schroeter, Global Director of Trade and Investment Policy, Dow Chemical; and Nabil Sultan, Emirates SkyCargo’s Divisional Senior Vice President for the past decade.

Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has been a leading facilitator of global trade for almost four decades, giving the airline a comprehensive perspective on the cyclical peaks and troughs of trade patterns. Guided by Dubai’s Economic Agenda, D33 which defines the city's vision of becoming a prominent economic hub, the airline works to improve trade flows and generate new, reciprocal business opportunities that help strengthen global economies, by adding new and unique destinations to its vast network of over 140 destinations.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only international organisation dealing with the global rules of trade, and aims to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. The Ministerial Conference (MC), which convenes every two years, is the uppermost decision-making body of the WTO. It brings together high- level decision-makers from around the world to review and rule on the multilateral trade system. MC13, hosted by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), is being held at ADNEC Abu Dhabi from 26 – 29 February.

Emirates Delivers launches new route, connecting Kuwait shoppers to the UAE

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 07:58:00 +0100

Dubai, UAE, February 15, 2024 – Emirates Delivers, the e-commerce delivery solution from Emirates SkyCargo, has launched a new route, connecting Kuwaiti shoppers with their favourite UAE based-brands. Now, Kuwaiti shoppers can shop online from websites in the UAE, the UK and the US with fast, reliable, and cost-effective international shipping via Emirates Delivers.

Home to the world’s largest mall, Dubai is a renowned hive for shopping, attracting some of the most popular and in-demand brands, most of which also offer e-commerce. UAE retail has something for everyone: from designer boutiques with fresh-from-the-runway pieces to department stores with on-trend looks for the whole family; homeware finds from home-grown brands to sprawling stores stocking one-of-a-kind décor; the latest skincare, make-up, oud and fragrances; not to mention the array of innovative tech and latest gadgets. Kuwaiti shoppers can fill their online baskets and Emirates Delivers will bring the items from the UAE in just 3 to 5 days.

Appealing to shoppers of all budgets and categories, Dubai hosts many annual shopping celebrations such as Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Summer Surprises as well as bi-yearly and seasonal super sales. By launching this new route, Emirates Delivers ensures Kuwait shoppers will never miss a deal!

Emirates Delivers isn’t just a useful delivery tool to use while you’re in Kuwait. Maximize your next retail therapy trip to Dubai, by sending your new purchases back via Emirates Delivers – it’ll be waiting for you when you get home.

How Emirates Delivers works

Upon signing up to Emirates Delivers, shoppers are given a unique shipping address in the UAE, UK and US, available in ‘My Suite’. This allows users to immediately start shopping online, and have their items delivered to the Emirates Delivers facility.

Once the items arrive at the Emirates Delivers facility, agents will review purchases to ensure they arrived undamaged and upload photos of the items, before repacking to ensure proper wrapping and protection for international delivery. With free storage of up to 30 days, Emirates Delivers allows customers to combine items from different retailers and vendors and consolidate their purchases into one package to further reduce the already-competitive shipping costs.

Using ‘My Suite’, customers can then confirm shipping, with full tracking visibility from the time the items are received at the facility, through to delivery of the package at their door. Emirates Delivers takes care of all the hassle of shipping and customs clearance, making cross-border shopping simple. It offers the unique feature of providing all costs upfront, with no hidden or surprise costs.

Emirates Delivers first launched in the UAE in 2019, before expanding operations to Kuwait in 2023, bringing the best of US and UK shopping. Unlocking a world of international shopping, Emirates Delivers has been used by thousands of shoppers in the UAE and Kuwait to transport apparel, cosmetics, toys and games, books, footwear, and accessories as well as vitamins and health supplements.

To celebrate the new route, existing Emirates Delivers customers can enjoy their first shipment from the UAE to Kuwait completely free of charge until 1 March, 2024.

Terms and Conditions

Maximum billable weight of 5 KG.
Offer valid only until 1 March, 2024.