Neo Space Group, a PIF company, announced on Tuesday the launch of the Earth Observation Marketplace, Saudi Arabia’s first dedicated Earth observation data marketplace, powered by UP42 – a company fully owned by the group. The platform is designed to meet the growing demand for advanced Earth observation and geospatial data solutions.
“The launch of the EO Marketplace reflects the Kingdom’s remarkable trajectory of growth and the increasing demand for EO data. Today, more than ever, EO data plays a pivotal role in supporting Saudi Arabia’s transformational Vision 2030 — from infrastructure development and urban expansion to optimized resource management,” said Martijn Blanken, CEO of Neo Space Group.
Given the Kingdom’s vast geography — spanning over 2.15 million square kilometers, nearly the size of Western Europe — this platform will serve as both a valuable marketplace and decision-making tool across a wide range of sectors, added Blanken.
Platform to offer crucial high-resolution satellite imagery
The group explained that the Earth Observation Marketplace will bring together a growing network of Earth observation data providers and value-added service providers offering advanced geospatial analytics and data processing capabilities.
The platform is built to empower public sector agencies, Saudi companies and international users by offering a wide range of high-resolution satellite imagery and Earth observation data products. It aims to serve as a comprehensive and simplified one-stop shop to support solution developers and service providers and is fully equipped to meet the future needs of government entities within the Kingdom.
The platform is also expected to drive the expansion of Earth observation data availability across a range of applications in key sectors, including environment, infrastructure, energy, real estate, mining, transportation, logistics, agriculture and others. This launch aligns closely with the initiatives and goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Read: The region is transforming and the world is watching
Accelerating the adoption of space tech in Saudi Arabia
The launch follows the completion of NSG’s acquisition of UP42 GmbH from Airbus, originally disclosed in December 2024. UP42 is a next-generation digital platform for Earth observation that leverages cloud computing technology to provide leading solutions for accessing and analyzing Earth observation data.
“Value creation is shifting downstream in the EO supply chain — where AI technologies intersect with space data. The market is now at a perfect inflection point,” said Frank Salzgeber, acting deputy governor for the space sector at the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST).
“Alongside enhancing national capabilities, the platform is expected to accelerate the adoption of space technologies in the Kingdom. It reflects our national priorities: fostering technological innovation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and building secure infrastructure,” he added.
The Saudi Earth Observation Marketplace enables seamless discovery, acquisition and management of Earth observation data and large-scale image processing via unified formats, intuitive tools and fully automated workflows. The platform is designed to comply with the regulatory requirements of the Kingdom and is hosted on a secure and reliable infrastructure.
