Sovereignty in Orbit, with Hamdullah Mohib (CEO of Orbitworks)

Space sovereignty drives the development of Orbitworks, a UAE-based satellite manufacturing facility established to provide nations with independent, rapid decision-making capabilities. By partnering with Loft Orbital, Orbitworks leverages a flexible, hardware-agnostic model that enables the integration of diverse payloads and buses, facilitating a transition from simple imagery to advanced satellite-as-a-service applications. Hamdullah Mohib, former Afghan National Security Advisor and current CEO of Orbitworks, emphasizes that the Middle East is shifting from a consumer of space services to a strategic producer, with sovereign wealth funds increasingly prioritizing in-country value creation. This evolution aims to transform the region into a global hub for space assets, supported by a growing ecosystem of startups and industrial infrastructure designed to foster a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.