Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat)', a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, signed in August 2007 an agreement with a European consortium comprising EADS Astrium/Thales Alenia Space to manufacture a US$1.66 billion dual satellite communications system in time for a launch in the second half of 2010.

The turnkey contract gives the go-ahead for the consortium to use its resources and expertise to design and construct Yahsat's two satellites from design concept to post-launch. Both satellites were launched within months of one another, allowing Yahsat to provide customers with innovative solutions for broadcasting services, internet trunking via satellite, corporate data networks, and backhauling services to telecom operators. The Yahsat satellites will fulfill the satellite communication requirements of both government and commercial customers in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and South West Asia. The system is designed to accommodate the trends of emerging applications in the satellite industry like HDTV and other broadband satellite services.