Arabsat chooses China for next satellite and launch
September 25, 2026

By Chris Forrester



Arabsat has marked its 50th Anniversary at an event in Tunisia by unveiling plans for its Arabsat-50 satellite.

The ceremony was held on the sidelines of the 26th Arab Radio and Television Festival, which took place in Tunis, and was attended by a number of Arab and foreign ambassadors accredited to Tunisia, including Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Buraithen.


Arabsat says that this new satellite will be built by China (and based on China’s DFH-3E Platform) and launched by a Long March 3B rocket from China’s launch site at Xichang. Arabsat says this is the first-ever communications satellite supplied by China to the Middle East.

In a video address, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Satellite Communications Organisation, Haitham Al-Ohali, said that Arabsat’s achievements today are the result of sustained efforts that have enabled the organization to become a close and trusted partner across the Arab world.

Arabsat said the unveiling of Arabsat 50 “marks a milestone in the organisation’s five-decade journey, reflecting its continued commitment to innovation, technological advancement, and strengthening its role within the Arab region’s satellite communications and media ecosystem”