Global lunar exploration company ispace, Inc. has announced the initiation of a new subsidiary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This marks ispace’s fourth international entity, complementing its offices in Tokyo, Luxembourg, and Denver. The move reflects the company’s commitment to fostering partnerships and collaborations that advance lunar exploration within the Kingdom.
Strengthening Saudi Partnerships and Capabilities
The new ispace Saudi Arabia entity will deepen engagement with both commercial and institutional partners across the Kingdom. Building on existing agreements with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and a leading Saudi science and technology organization, the subsidiary aims to advance lunar technology development and collaborative missions. Additionally, it will support initiatives to develop local expertise and capabilities in lunar exploration, in line with Saudi Arabia’s broader space ambitions.
Regulatory Milestones and Incorporation
ispace has received an Investment Registration Certificate from the Saudi Ministry of Investment (MISA) and is progressing with commercial registration to finalize incorporation. This regulatory approval enables the company to operate fully within the Kingdom and engage more directly with key stakeholders. The establishment of the entity coincides with Saudi Arabia’s accelerated investment in space technologies, led by the Public Investment Fund’s NEO Space Group and the Saudi Space Agency.
Focus Areas: Technology, Research, and Exploration
The Saudi subsidiary will prioritize industrial and academic collaborations, particularly in surface exploration technologies and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). It will leverage expertise from ispace’s European team in Luxembourg to support these initiatives and foster technology transfer. The entity’s work will also complement ongoing partnerships with leading Saudi universities and research organizations to advance lunar missions and technological capabilities.
Strategic Memoranda of Understanding
In 2025, ispace signed a Memorandum of Understanding with KFUPM, followed by another MoU in January 2026 with a prominent Saudi science and technology organization. These agreements provide frameworks for collaboration across lunar technology, missions, and capability development. They also reinforce Saudi Arabia’s ambition to contribute meaningfully to the global lunar exploration landscape.
Leadership Perspective
Takeshi Hakamada, Founder and CEO of ispace, emphasized that the establishment of ispace Saudi Arabia reflects the momentum in the Kingdom’s space sector. He highlighted the importance of international collaboration to expand humanity’s presence beyond Earth. According to Hakamada, the new entity will accelerate joint projects, facilitate technology development, and support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals in space and technology innovation.
Launch at Saudi-Japan Ministerial Investment Forum
The announcement coincided with the Saudi-Japan Ministerial Investment Forum in Riyadh on January 11, 2026, attended by H.E. Eng. Khalid A. Al-Falih, Saudi Minister of Investment, and H.E. Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry. The forum underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration between Japan and Saudi Arabia across space, advanced technologies, and innovation. The initiative aims to foster long-term growth in the global space economy through cross-border partnerships and investment.
With the launch of its Saudi Arabian subsidiary, ispace is positioned to play a pivotal role in advancing lunar exploration in the Kingdom. By leveraging its global expertise and fostering partnerships with academic and commercial stakeholders, the company aims to accelerate both technology development and local capability building. This expansion highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in the international space sector and reinforces ispace’s mission to expand human activity beyond Earth.