BSA participates in COMEX 2025 in Oman
Muscat, Sep. 24 (BNA): The Bahrain Space Agency (BSA) participated in the 34th COMEX Global Technology Exhibition "COMEX 2025", organised by Al Dar Al Arabiya for Data Analytics with the support of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of the Sultanate of Oman.
Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Aseeri, Chief Executive of the BSA, said that the Agency was a keynote speaker at the event as a strategic partner in a project to launch Bahraini artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms into space on board a satellite owned by StarVision and Oman Lens.
Dr. Al Aseeri emphasised that the BSA is committed to driving digital economy growth by harnessing advanced technologies, including AI, to process Earth observation data via satellites. He noted that the initiative aims to boost efficiency, productivity, decision-making and innovation in the space sector, while enhancing global competitiveness. He added that the project is aligned with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, the Government Action Plan and the National Space Policy, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to adopting future sciences such as AI across sectors, including space.
Rasha Al Amad, Chief of Strategic Planning at the BSA, highlighted that the Agency’s efforts to integrate AI into the space sector were showcased at the exhibition in several key areas. These include: small satellites and low-orbit payloads such as the "Al Munther" satellite, which carries four payloads including an AI-powered image processing system; the ongoing project with StarVision and Oman Lens, under which an algorithm automatically detects clouds in satellite images, calculates their coverage, and replaces them with archived imagery before transmission to the ground station; and the carbon dioxide emissions monitoring payload, developed in partnership with the University of Leicester.
Other focus areas included space exploration missions, such as the lunar explorer and orbital lunar spacecraft equipped with AI processing systems developed by the national team; data and image analysis to provide studies that support various sectors in Bahrain; and space research centred on AI applications in the space field. The Agency’s leadership role at the national, regional, and international levels was also underlined.
Developing AI algorithms for use on board satellites represents a major leap in the space sector. This technology enables the transformation of vast amounts of Earth observation data into high-value, real-time information that supports environmental monitoring, urban planning, and national security. It also reduces the volume of data transmitted to Earth, while improving image quality and resource efficiency, thereby contributing to long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
This year’s edition of COMEX also witnessed the announcement of strategic projects designed to attract local and international digital investment. These included the Digital Triangle project, the Artificial Intelligence Zone, and the Green AI Alliance, which brings together local and international public- and private-sector entities alongside academic institutions. Agreements worth over 42 million Omani riyals were also announced.
