OtherRiyadh, SA
Neospacegroup
- Founded
- 2024
- Team
- 201-500
Timeline 10 moments
Latest · NSG appoints Ahmed AlFraih Group CFO 12d agoAbout
PIF-owned downstream space services company delivering multi-orbit satcom including IFC (Skywaves), geospatial analytics via NSG Geospatial Services and UP42 marketplace, and planned PNT solutions from Riyadh.
Neo Space Group (NSG) is a Public Investment Fund company focused on downstream commercial space services. It operates satellite communications with multi-orbit capacity and in-flight connectivity under the Skywaves brand (powered by partnerships including SES and acquired Display Interactive technology for traffic management and passenger portals), geospatial intelligence through NSG Geospatial Services (formerly Taqnia ETS) and the UP42 Earth-observation marketplace, plus Positioning, Navigation and Timing services still launching. It also runs a space-focused venture capital activity.
Key moves include the 2024 acquisition and rebrand of Taqnia ETS into NSG Geospatial Services, completion of the UP42 acquisition from Airbus Defence and Space in July 2025 (followed by launch of Saudi Arabia’s first EO marketplace), and the Display Interactive acquisition announced in September 2025 to strengthen IFC. Clients for IFC include Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways; the company is also commercialising capacity on the Saudi SGS-1 geostationary communications satellite (joint with Hellas Sat) and has signed multiple MoUs with Saudi entities such as Aramco, SDAIA, Arabsat and others.
NSG was established by PIF (FAQ states 2023; operational launch and brand May 2024) and is headquartered in Riyadh. Leadership transitioned in April 2026 from founding CEO Martijn Blanken to Group CEO Eng. Haithem Mohammed Mojil Alfaraj. Employee counts reported across sources range roughly 200–600 depending on inclusion of subsidiaries.
Timeline
- 3 FOMO
NSG appoints Ahmed AlFraih Group CFO
NSG appointed Ahmed AlFraih as Group Chief Financial Officer. AlFraih previously held CFO roles at several Saudi entities including NUPCO and MODON.
- 4 FOMO
NSG signs MoU with HispaSat
NSG and HispaSat signed an MoU at World Satellite Business Week covering collaboration in satellite communications, geospatial intelligence and related services.
- 15 FOMO
NSG–Aramco MoU on space services for field ops
NSG and Saudi Aramco signed an MoU to apply satellite communications and geospatial services to oil-and-gas field operations.
- 37 FOMO
Haithem Alfaraj appointed NSG Group CEO
Former stc Group CTO Haithem Alfaraj became Group CEO, succeeding founding CEO Martijn Blanken as the company moves from build-out to scaled commercialisation including SGS-1 capacity.
- 15 FOMO
NeoMaps sovereign geospatial platform launched
NSG Geospatial Services launched NeoMaps, a sovereign Saudi platform delivering near-real-time geospatial intelligence and mapping for government and commercial users.
- 27 FOMO
NSG to acquire Display Interactive for IFC
NSG agreed to acquire French IFEC specialist Display Interactive to integrate its Skywaves traffic-management and SkyFly passenger-portal technology into a unified multi-orbit IFC offering.
- 22 FOMO
Saudi first EO marketplace launched via UP42
Following the UP42 acquisition, NSG opened Saudi Arabia’s first national EO marketplace, giving local users access to multi-source imagery and analytics.
- 66 FOMO
NSG completes UP42 acquisition from Airbus
NSG closed the previously announced purchase of Berlin-based EO marketplace UP42 from Airbus, folding the platform into its geospatial division.
- 6 FOMO
NSG marks first anniversary and early wins
One year after PIF launch, NSG reported Taqnia ETS integration, UP42 deal progress, Esri collaboration, and IFC contracts with Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways.
- 49 FOMO
NSG announces UP42 acquisition from Airbus
NSG signed a definitive agreement to buy Airbus’s UP42 EO marketplace, subject to regulatory clearances; deal later closed in July 2025.
Signals
- 8 Neo Space Group Announces Appointment of Group Chief Financial Officer Neo Space Group
- 11 Strengthening Global Partnerships: Neo Space Group Signs MoU with HispaSat at WSBW 2026 Neo Space Group
- 47 Neo Space Group Appoints Eng. Haithem Mohammed Mojil Alfaraj as Chief Executive Officer Neo Space Group
- 25 NSG Geospatial Services Unveils NeoMaps Neo Space Group
- 38 Neo Space Group (NSG) to Acquire Display Interactive PR Newswire
- 75 Neo Space Group Completes Acquisition of UP42 from Airbus Defence and Space UP42 / NSG
- 15 Neo Space Group Celebrates First Anniversary with Major Milestones, Strategic Acquisitions and New Clients Neo Space Group
- 61 Neo Space Group to Acquire UP42 Earth Observation Digital Platform from Airbus PR Newswire
People
Headquarters
Neospacegroup is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (24.81°N 46.72°E).
Hardware Fleet
Saudi Ka-band (and Ku) geostationary communications satellite built by Lockheed Martin with KACST involvement; NSG is commercialising and operationalising capacity on it for IFC and other services in partnership with Hellas Sat.
Live simulation
Interactive browser-native 3D flight telemetry for Neospacegroup's hardware.