Kazakhstan launches Space R&D Laboratory in Saudi Arabia with a Potential of USD 50 Million
As part of the NSArt Gateway program, the first Kazakhstani space R&D laboratory was officially launched in Riyadh with the support of QazTrade (KazTrade). The project was initiated by NSArt, Space Lab, and Pnode.
The laboratory focuses on the development and testing of new technologies related to satellite communications. These technologies will subsequently be applied in navigation, industrial solutions, and smart systems.
According to Nurgozha Kaliaskarov, CEO of NSArt, in 2026 the laboratory will prioritize the development of satellite IoVIT communication terminals, IoT sensors, and telecommunication satellite solutions. The first pilot projects are expected to be launched in the first half of the year. The project is also supported by King Saud University, the oldest and largest university in the Gulf region.
Based on NSArt’s estimates, the initial pilot projects are scheduled for the first half of 2026, while the transition to commercial projects and large-scale technology deployment is expected in the second half of the year.
The expected export and investment impact of the project is estimated at approximately USD 50 million, including commercial contracts and the attraction of investment partners for technologies developed in Kazakhstan.
Ainur Amirbekova, Coordinator of the Export Acceleration Program at QazTrade, noted that this project is not a one-off initiative but part of a systematic effort to promote Kazakhstani high-tech solutions in international markets. The joint space laboratory with Space Lab, a 2024 graduate of the Export Acceleration Program implemented by QazTrade and the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, provides Kazakhstani companies in Riyadh with direct access to the Middle East SpaceTech ecosystem, investment partners, and new export opportunities.
The opening of the laboratory coincides with Kazakhstan’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence and High-Tech Exports, highlighting the country’s strategic priority to develop an innovation-driven economy. At the same time under the Saudi Vision 2030 program, Saudi Arabia aims to become a regional Space Hub by actively developing space technologies and digital infrastructure.