Dr. Badr Alsuwaidan is named Arabsat president and CEO. Photo: Arabsat

Arabsat has new leadership, appointing Dr. Badr Alsuwaidan as president and CEO. Alsuwaidan has more than 25 years of experience in the space industry and has served as Arabsat’s senior vice president and CTO since 2020. 

Alsuwaidan is credited with elevating Arabsat’s capabilities and its position in the satellite communications sector. He previously served as acting CEO of the company. He replaced President and CEO Alhamedi Alanezi, who led the company for three years. 

“I am honored to be entrusted by the board of directors with the leadership of Arabsat during a time of dynamic transformation in our industry,” Alsuwaidan said. “The pace of progress and the emergence of new players present exciting opportunities. I look forward to working with our talented team to deliver exceptional value to our customers and lead Arabsat into its next chapter of growth.”

Arabsat, owned by the Arab League and headquartered in Saudi Arabia, operates a fleet of eight satellites and provides broadcast and data services in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Central Asia.

Arabsat recently signed a term sheet with Telesat for dedicated Lightspeed Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity when the constellation is operational. Arabsat plans to integrate Lightspeed LEO services into its multi-orbit satellite ecosystem.