Viasat opens office in Dubai in anticipation of business coming with ViaSat-3

Viasat recently opened a new office in a city ranked as one of the most luxurious in the world. The Dubai office, now in a 300-square-foot space, is expected to grow as the company’s aviation, energy, and maritime mobility business in the region expands with the anticipated ViaSat-3 global satellite constellation. It also builds on Viasat’s ongoing relationship with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), a Dubai-based government entity that is integral to the UAE Space Program

Viasat subsidiary RigNet also has a UAE office in Dubai, and its 16 employees there will also use the Viasat space as needed.

“Initially we’ll have some people from the RigNet office working out of here, as well as visitors from other offices as they come through,” said Ryan Johnson, Global Market Access & Government Affairs lead for Viasat. “Our expectation is that, over the next several years, we will have more Viasat employees here.”

The office has opened largely in anticipation of business that is expected to come with ViaSat-3. The second satellite of the constellation is meant to serve Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Earlier in 2021, Viasat added capacity across the Middle East and Western Europe through a lease with satellite company Avanti Communications. The new capacity bolsters Viasat’s growing global mobility and enterprise businesses, specifically in the aviation, maritime, and energy industries. It also helps Viasat establish a presence with mobility customers in the region in advance of ViaSat-3.

Additionally, Johnson said the new office can serve as an international showcase and demonstration site for Viasat’s products and services — much as the company’s current Washington, D.C. office does.