ispace names Anas Al-Shuwayer as General Manager and Managing Director of its Saudi Arabia entity

Japanese lunar exploration company ispace has appointed Anas Al-Shuwayer as General Manager and Managing Director of its Saudi Arabia entity, effective November 1, 2026, as it looks to expand its operations and pursue business opportunities in 

the Kingdom's emerging space sector.

Al-Shuwayer will oversee the development of the company's Saudi operations, drive business growth and lead strategic initiatives connecting ispace's global lunar exploration expertise with Saudi Arabia's space ambitions.

He brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the energy, industrial services, critical infrastructure and government sectors in Saudi Arabia, with expertise in business development, organisational leadership and international operations.

Before joining ispace, Al-Shuwayer served as Director of Defence, Critical Infrastructure and Energy at Serco in Saudi Arabia, where he led strategic engagements with government and industry stakeholders.

He previously held leadership positions at SANKYU Saudi Arabia, Weatherford and Expro. He also served as General Manager of an oil and gas services company, overseeing business establishment, market expansion and operations.

Throughout his career, he has worked on organisational growth, capability development and localisation initiatives aligned with Saudi Arabia's national development priorities.

The appointment follows ispace's January 2026 announcement that it would establish its Saudi Arabia entity, ispace S A, expanding its international footprint beyond its existing operations in Japan, Luxembourg and the United States.

The company said the expansion reflects its commitment to developing new business opportunities, strengthening international partnerships and contributing to Saudi Arabia's efforts to build domestic space capabilities under Vision 2030.

In his new role, Al-Shuwayer will work with ispace's global teams and local stakeholders to establish the company's operational foundation, identify commercial opportunities and advance initiatives supporting the Kingdom's space sector.

He will also explore ways to leverage the company's international expertise and technological capabilities to support business and technology development in Saudi Arabia.

Takeshi Hakamada, Founder and CEO of ispace, said Saudi Arabia was an important part of the company's global growth strategy, making the establishment of a strong operational presence in the Kingdom a priority.

"Saudi Arabia represents an important part of ispace's global growth strategy, and establishing a strong operational presence in the Kingdom is a key priority for us. Mr. Al-Shuwayer brings the leadership experience, local market knowledge, and international business perspective needed to guide this next stage of development. His proven ability to establish and grow businesses will be valuable as we build our operations, pursue new opportunities, and explore how ispace's global capabilities can contribute to the Kingdom's developing space sector," Hakamada said.

Al-Shuwayer said Saudi Arabia's growing space industry presented opportunities for the company's long-term development.

"Saudi Arabia's unique ambition and growing space sector provide a strong foundation for ispace's future in the Kingdom. Drawing on my experience and the expertise of our global teams, I aim to grow ispace's footprint and build a sustainable presence that contributes to Saudi Arabia's journey in space for generations to come," he said.