Middle East and North Africa Imagery and Remote Sensing Market

Overview

Middle East and North Africa Imagery and Remote Sensing Market reached US$ 1.5 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 2.6 billion by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

High-resolution imagery help to monitor gas and electric transmission corridors and rights-of-way, monitor vegetation intrusion on distribution and transmission lines, perform accurate and cost-effective corridor analysis. In addition, increasing infrastructure development and rising construction projects in the region require precise and up-to-date geospatial information, driving demand for images and remote sensing services.

Furthermore, collaborations between Middle Eastern governments and international space organisations or satellite service providers might improve access to satellite data and services. Satellite technology advancements, such as enhanced data processing capabilities and high-resolution sensors, have reduced the cost of satellite imagery. The use of data analytics and AI processing and analysing satellite images, which provides useful insights for numerous industries, is thus rising, creating significant demand for the market.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia is expected to be the second-dominant growing region, holding more than 15% of Middle East and North Africa imagery and remote sensing market. Companies from all over the world are coming to the country to expand their footprint in the region. In 2022, International Business Machines Corp. will shortly implement remote-sensing technology in Saudi Arabia to track and quantify carbon dioxide emissions and footprint.

Dynamics

Rising Adoption of Smartphones

Smartphones with persistent internet connectivity allow users to access location-based services via built-in GPS and smartphones can provide exact location, allowing consumers to use a variety of location-based apps. Furthermore, smartphones may be effectively used to enable targeted advertising based on the user's location.

In accordance with Ericsson, the overall number of smartphone subscribers in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach over 797 million by 2028. As of 2022, there were approximately 559 million smartphone subscribers in the Middle East and North Africa. With such a huge increase in the overall number of smartphone subscribers in Middle East, it is likely to drive the growth potential during the forecast period.

Growing Adoption of Location-based Services

Location-based services rely heavily on geospatial data, which contains information about specific geographic places. Satellite imagery services provide high-resolution and up-to-date photographs of these locations, constituting a key component of geospatial data. Navigation and mapping systems are another example of location-based services. Imagery and remote sensing are therefore critical for creating detailed and accurate maps.

In March 2023, Comtech announced that it has been awarded a large contract worth around US$ 29 million by Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (Yahsat), UAE's leading satellite solutions provider. The contract covers the provision of cutting-edge communication technology and location services, primarily for use on Yahsat's Thuraya 4-NGS satellite constellation.

Infrastructure and Regulatory Limitations

In some parts of the region, there is insufficient infrastructure to facilitate the adoption and use of imaging and remote sensing technology. Inadequate internet connectivity, power supply concerns and insufficient data storage capacities can all impede the successful deployment and operation of remote sensing equipment. The region has regulatory problems over data access, privacy and laws.

Data sharing restrictions, satellite images licensing regulations and bureaucratic roadblocks can stymie the growth of the imagery and remote sensing markets, limiting the availability of data for analysis and decision making. A lack of technical skills, training opportunities and institutional support might impede the adoption of remote sensing systems and limit their integration into decision-making processes across diverse industries.

Segment Analysis

Middle East and North Africa imagery and remote sensing market is segmented based on technology, imagery resolution, application, end-user and region.

Rising Demand for Smart Cities Drives the Segment Growth

Geospatial data acquisition and mapping are expected to be the dominant segment with over 1/3rd of the market during the forecast period 2024-2031. The region's governments are funding in smart city initiatives and projects involving digital transformation to improve urban services, quality of life and economic growth. UAE has done well in global rankings for constructing smart cities. It is part of its digital transformation strategy, as well as a tool for economic diversification.

UAE's first move towards changing traditional cities into smart ones was the introduction of UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025. The strategy's major purpose is to build a broad government commitment to including digital features in all industries. Geospatial applications contribute to smart city development by offering data-driven insights, spatial analytics and visualization tools for urban planning, infrastructure management and citizen participation.

Geographical Penetration

Rising Govenrment Initaitives in UAE

UAE is expected to be the dominant region in Middle East and North Africa imagery and remote sensing market covering over 30% of the market. UAE government has taken several key proactive initiatives, primarily to grow its space industry, recognising the enormous potential of space technology and Earth observation capabilities. The measures have established the country as a key player in the global market, driving progress in data analytics, satellite technology and remote sensing applications.

UAE government created the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and UAE Space Agency to oversee space-related operations. The specialised businesses play an important role in the operation, development and promotion of satellite imagery services for both commercial and government use. Furthermore, UAE cabinet authorised the National Space Strategy 2031, which consists of 79 space scientific and research programmes, assembly, manufacturing, testing and other commercial space services.

Competitive Landscape

The major global players in the market include Northrop Grumman, The Airborne Sensing Corporation, ITT INC, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Honeywell International Inc, Thales Group orbital Insight, Satellite Imaging Corporation, Droplet Measurement Technologies and Raytheon Technologies Corporation.

COVID-19 Impact

The pandemic has impacted operations and supply lines globally. Travel restrictions, social distancing measures and lockdowns have limited organizations' ability to perform fieldwork, collect data and deploy remote sensing equipment, causing project and delivery delays. It has underlined the significance of remote sensing technology in healthcare applications such as disease mapping and infrastructure planning.

There is a growing interest in using satellite images and remote sensing data to track virus spread and support public health initiatives in the region. Despite the challenges created by the epidemic, the Imagery and Remote Sensing market has shown resilience and flexibility. Companies shifted their business strategies and used emerging technologies like AI and machine learning to address market demand.

Russia-Ukraine War Impact

Increased geopolitical tensions may raise the demand for surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering capabilities in the region. Governments and defense agencies may seek enhanced imagery and remote sensing solutions to monitor border security, maritime operations and possible threats, driving up investment in satellite imagery and surveillance technologies.

The conflict raises concerns about the security of MENA's essential infrastructure, which includes energy facilities, transportation networks and strategic assets. Governments and private sector organizations invest in advanced images and remote sensing technologies for infrastructure monitoring, threat identification and emergency response planning to improve security and resilience.

By Technology

• Satellite Imagery
• Aerial Imagery
• Others

By Imagery Resolution

• Low Resolution
• Medium Resolution
• High Resolution

By Application

• Geospatial Data Acquisition and Mapping
• Natural Resource Management
• Surveillance and Security
• Conservation and Research
• Disaster Management
• Others

By End-User

• Government
• Construction
• Transportation and Logistics
• Military and Defense
• Forestry and Agriculture
• Others

By Country

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Oman
• Bahrain
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Rest of Middle East and North Africa

Key Developments

• In July 2023, Impact Observatory, a famous U.S.-based space monitoring system company, has formed a relationship with Planet Labs PBC, a global source of daily data and insights. The cooperation uses cutting-edge AI methods to continually assess land cover and usage using Planet Lab's high-frequency, medium/high-resolution satellite data. It will provide customers superior space-based global mapping and monitoring solutions.
• In December 2022, SpaceX scored a critical milestone when it successfully launched an Israeli Earth-imaging satellite into orbit. The enhanced observation satellite, built by Israel-based remote sensing business ImageSat International, is intended for military security and intelligence uses. It represents a significant advancement for Israel within the global space industry.
• In December 2021, Airbus launched its second ocean monitoring satellite, Sentinel-6B. The satellite was designed to estimate the distance to the sea surface with an accuracy of a few centimeters. The satellite's primary objective is to measure the height of the sea surface, variations in sea levels and analyze and observe ocean currents.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the MENA imagery and remote sensing market segmentation based on technology, imagery resolution, application, end-user and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points of imagery and remote sensing market-level with all segments.
• PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
• Product mapping available as excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The Middle East and North Africa imagery and remote sensing market report would provide approximately 45 tables, 39 figures and 157 pages.

Target Audience 2024

• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies