Elevating
Sustainability inSpaceTech Solutions
Yahsat Sustainability Report 2023

Table of Contents
1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

2

Message from Chairman
About this Report

46

2.1 Information Covered
2.2 Reporting Framework
2.3 Material Topics
2.4 Reporting Topics Boundaries
2.5 Restatements
2.6 Feedback and Suggestions

6
6
6
6
6
7

About Yahsat

8

3.1 Our Vision
3.2 Our Mission
3.3 Overview of Our Services
3.4 Major Awards
3.5 Assessment from ESG Rating Agencies
3.6 Sustainability Highlights of 2023

8
8
9
10
11
12

Our Approach to Sustainability

14

4.1 Yahsat Sustainability Strategy and Sustainability Framework
4.2 Stakeholder Engagement & Materiality Assessment

14
18

Reliable Corporate Governance21

5.1 Corporate Governance
5.2 Business Ethics and Competitive Behaviour
5.3 Business Continuity and Risk Management
5.4 Data Privacy and Security
5.5 Economic Impact

22
26
28
31
32

Serving Customers and Communities

34

6.1 Customer Relationship Management
6.2 Disaster Response
6.3 Access to Communications, Connecting Communities &Community Investment

35
37
39

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

7.

8.

9.

Investing in People

43

7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4

44
46
49
50

Employment
Diversity and Inclusion, Employee Engagement
Health & Safety
Human Rights

Promoting Environmental Protection

51

8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6

52
53
55
58
59
59

Environmental Management
Energy Management
Carbon Emissions and Climate Strategy
Product, Innovation and Life Cycle Management
Sustainable Use of Space
Biodiversity

Developing Business Partnerships

61

9.1 Supply Chain Management
9.2 Responsible Sourcing & Partnerships

62
63

10. Yahsat Corporate Social Responsibity Strategy
Framework
11. Appendices11.1 Appendix A: Stakeholders
11.2 Appendix B: GRI Content Index, UNGC Disclosure and Abu
Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) ESG Metrics
11.3 Appendix C: UNGC Alignment
11.4 Appendix D: SASB Index Mapping

64
66
67
68
75
77

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3

About this Report

Message from
Chairman“It is with great pleasure that we present to you Yahsat’s third
Annual Sustainability Report for the year 2023. The report provides
a summary of how we integrate, progress, and manage sustainability
throughout the organisation, while contributing to the local, national,
and international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals. It also reinforces Yahsat’s position as a leading
player in the SpaceTech sector by providing technologically advanced
satellite communication solutions in over 150 countries.”

Musabbeh Al Kaabi
Chairman of the Board

4

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

In 2023, Yahsat proudly
continued its mission
to elevate and integratesustainability into our corebusiness operations, culture,and strategic objectives. As
we navigated another yearof advancing SpaceTech fora sustainable future, ourcommitment to sustainable
development has never been
more robust or more integral
to our identity.
Our sustainability strategy,
which was launched theprevious year, outlined ourplan to become a frontrunnerin promoting sustainable
development and deliveringvalue to our stakeholders,
and within 2023 we achieved
notable success in driving
our sustainability agenda.
Moving forward with thisstrategy, combined with ourmateriality assessment andSustainability Framework, we
are well equipped to prioritiseand focus our efforts onachieving specific, quantifiablegoals that will propel oursustainability initiatives.
Further strengthening
our commitment, Yahsat
established an Environmental,
Social and Governance(ESG) function to provide
thought leadership to
ESG and sustainability

factors and support theimplementation of various ESG
programmes within Yahsat.
A comprehensive ESG Policy
has been developed andapproved by the Board, basedon the Yahsat Sustainability
Framework built upon fivepillars. This policy guides andsupports implementation of
our Sustainability Framework incoordination with the relevant
departments, ensuring acohesive and integrated
approach to our sustainability
effort.
A crucial element of oursustainability initiatives
is our engagement insignificant local, national, andinternational sustainability
agendas, particularly where we
can have a substantial impact.
This includes aligning with the
Abu Dhabi Economic Vision
2030, the UAE National Space
Strategy, the United Nations
Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and the United
Nations Global Compact(UNGC).
At the heart of any thriving
and sustainable organisation
lies strong and effective
governance. In 2023, Yahsat
upheld an exemplary record,
reporting no breaches ofcustomer data and privacy, no

incidents of bribery, corruption,
discrimination or human rights
violations, and successfullycompleted external audits ofour business continuity andrisk management processes.
Such achievements bolster
the confidence of all our
stakeholders in the strengthof our corporate governanceframework, which adheresto the highest international
standards.
As the UAE’s flagship providerof satellite communications
solutions, Yahsat recognises its
important role in supporting
communities both regionallyand globally. We deliver
essential communication
services that unite
communities and individuals.
Advancing our efforts, this year
saw the development of our
Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) Strategy Framework,
which is closely aligned to
our Sustainability Frameworkand sets out our ambitions
to be at the forefront ofsocial responsibility in theSpaceTech sector. In 2023, we
continued to provide efficient
communication solutions tovarious communities across theworld, including regions suchas the Middle East, Africa, andSouthwest Asia. Furthermore,
Yahsat consistently upheld a

About Yahsat

99.9 percent availability rate
for its Satellite Network/
Service across its coverage,
which was crucial in helping
to swiftly respond to disasterevents and contributed tosaving 129 human lives.
2023 was the UAE’s Year of
Sustainability, and during
this period our innovative
SpaceTech solutions as wellas our employees played apivotal role in environmental
stewardship. As the hostcountry for COP28, the UAE
saw Yahsat play a crucial roleby exhibiting its SpaceTechbased climate solutions.
Yahsat’s senior management
proactively shared industry
expertise in eight COP28
sessions, demonstrating
technologically advanced
SpaceTech solutions toaccelerate climate actions.
Furthermore, Yahsat iscommitted to the longterm sustainability of space
and is aligned to various
international guidelines
including the United
Nations Committee on thePeaceful Uses of Outer
Space (COPUOS) and theInter-Agency Space Debris
Coordination Committee(IADC) space debris mitigation
guidelines.

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
GovernanceThis year, Yahsat received
multiple accolades, notably
being listed in Forbes Middle
East’s Top 100 Sustainability
Leaders, a recognitionof Group CEO Mr. Ali Al
Hashemi’s efforts to promotesustainability in the SpaceTech
sector. Additionally, Yahsat
was awarded the prestigious
2023 Future Workplace Awardas the ‘Best Employer of theYear.’ As an organisation,
we recognise our workforce
as our most valuable asset
and, by fostering a work
atmosphere that is safe,
egalitarian and rewarding,while ensuring diversity
and actively supporting
Emiratisation, Yahsat
aims to attract and retain
an exceptionally skilledworkforce. This commitment isreflected in our achievementof 52% UAE nationals among
our full-time direct employees
and an 82% employee
engagement score in ourPeople Survey. We also upheld
an outstanding performancein health and safety, recording
no fatalities or lost-time
injuries among our employees
or contractors.

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendicesinvestments in technology,
people, and partnerships
are geared towards driving
sustainable growth andmaking a positive impact
on the world. We remaincommitted to exploring
new frontiers in satellite
technology, enhancing ourcontributions to global
sustainability efforts, andsupporting our communities
and stakeholders.
The journey of sustainability
is a continuous one, and at
Yahsat, we are more motivatedthan ever to advance our
mission. We thank our
stakeholders for their trustand support.

As we look to the future,
we are excited by theopportunities and challenges
ahead. Our ongoing

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

5About this Report

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

About this Report
1 Information Covered

5 Restatements

The report’s sections and content are aligned with the Yahsat
Sustainability Framework five key pillars. The core sections include
Yahsat’s efforts and commitment towards Reliable Corporate Governance,
Serving Customers and Communities, Investing in People, Promoting
Environmental Protection, and Developing Business Partnerships.

In the 2023 Sustainability Report, we have made three restatements which areprovided below:
1.

2 Reporting Framework
Yahsat’s 2023 Sustainability Report has been prepared in accordance with
the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. GRI is the most widelyused and recognised global sustainability reporting framework. The
report is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals (UN SDGs), United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), Sustainability
Accounting Standards Board (SASB), UAE National Space Strategy 2030,
Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange(ADX) ESG Disclosure Guidelines.

4 Reporting Topics Boundaries
The material topics’ boundaries include Yahsat and its subsidiaries(collectively referred to as the “Group”) within Yahsat’s direct control.

6

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

As per 2022 Sustainability Report
Petrol consumption fromoperations & vehicles (litres)
Diesel consumption fromoperations & vehicles (litres)b.

Correction in 2023 Sustainability Report
Petrol consumption in vehicles (litres)2.

Adoption of a more accurate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission calculation
method as per the GHG Protocol in 2023, and re-calculating the baseline
emissions for 2022, with a redefined boundary considering Yahsat
Headquarter (HQ) for scope 1 and scope 2 for which actual data wascollected and used in the calculation. In the 2022 Sustainability Report, theboundary defined for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions was based on available
data. In 2023, Yahsat performed a detailed GHG calculation considering thefollowing:•

6 Feedback and Suggestions•

Scope 2 emissions were revised and backcasted for 2020 and 2021 by using UAE
specific emission factors from Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC)
as against to the earlier used emission factors from the Dubai Water andElectricity Authority (DEWA).

Telephone: +971 2501 0000
Email: sustainability@yahsat.ae
Website: www.yahsat.com•

Scope 2 emissions for 2022 are revised and reported only for Yahsat HQ for the
purpose of completeness and comparability. The same boundary is used for2023 emission reporting.

•

GHG emission intensity for 2022 is revised and Yahsat HQ is considered as theboundary for calculation.

•

For the reporting period 2020 and 2021, due to insufficient scope 1 data for
Yahsat HQ, GHG emission intensity could not be calculated with accuracy, hence
it is not reported.

•

Scope 3 emissions for 2022 is reported for the first time in the current
Sustainability Report as detailed calculations were conducted in 2023 for theyear 2022.

Diesel consumption from operations(back-up power) (litres)

With the improvements in the data collection process, defining appropriate
boundaries, and consolidating the disclosures requirements, the corrections
were made for direct energy use of petrol and diesel as appropriate.

3 Material Topics
At Yahsat, we undertake a detailed materiality assessment every two
years and conduct a refresh exercise in the alternate years. The lastcomprehensive assessment was carried out in 2021, followed by a refreshin 2022, which resulted in no change to the material topics from thepreceding year. For the year 2023, Yahsat conducted a comprehensive
materiality assessment by engaging with its internal and external
stakeholders to identify the topics that influenced their assessment anddecisions of Yahsat; and those that were of significant impact across
Yahsat’s business operation in 2023. The most material topics form thefocus of Yahsat’s 2023 Sustainability Report.

Restatement for use of petrol and diesel consumption in Yahsat. In the
Sustainability Report 2022, it was mentioned that petrol and diesel wereused in both vehicles and operations, however the corrections are made in
the 2023 Sustainability Report on their actual use within Yahsat, which isprovided below:#a.

Scope 1 emissions for Yahsat HQ was revised for 2022 by adding the details ofemission sources unavailable prior, hence an increase in emissions is observed,
as against the previously reported emissions in scope 1.

•

This is the third Annual Sustainability Report issued by Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (‘Yahsat’) and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Group”). The
report demonstrates Yahsat’s environmental, social, governance and economic performance, progress, and initiatives from 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023. We have disclosed
our sustainability performance for the material topics as per the materiality assessment results of 2023.

3.

The report is available on Yahsat’s website. For any inquiries or
feedback regarding this report, please contact the Yahsat ESG Team:The indirect energy consumption (GJ) data reported for 2022 in the Sustainability
Report 2022 is corrected from 72,360 GJ to 69,999 GJ in the Sustainability Report
2023. The correction was made after using the right conversion factor from kWh to
GJ.

In order to align with the best practices as recommended in GRI 2: General Disclosure
2021, we have provided the restatements which were made to help Yahsat improveand disclose its sustainability performance with utmost accuracy, and to ensurecompleteness and consistency in future reporting.

Boundary for emissions calculation was defined as Yahsat HQ for 2022
baseline covering scope 1 and scope 2. The same boundary is used for2023 to assess Relevance, Completeness, Consistency, Transparency and
Accuracy as per GHG Principles.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

7

About this Report

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

About Yahsat

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

AppendicesOverview of Our Services

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company P.J.S.C. (Yahsat) is a public company
listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and a subsidiary of MubadalaInvestment Company, offering multi-mission satellite services in more than 150
countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, and Australasia.
Yahsat provides multipurpose satellite solutions (government and commercial) for
broadband, broadcast, defence, and communications use. Headquartered in Abu
Dhabi, UAE, Yahsat is the first public entity in the Middle East and Africa to offer
multipurpose satellite services.
Yahsat’s fleet of five satellites reaches more than 80% of the world’s population,
enabling critical communications including broadband, video broadcasting,backhauling and mobile voice and data solutions. Yahsat provides a wide range ofC, Ku, Ka, and L-band solutions for land, maritime and aero platforms to consumers,
governments, and enterprises.

Our Vision: To be the global partner of choice for reliable, innovative, andaffordable satellite solutions.
Our Mission: To deliver exceptional value to our customers, shareholders, and partners byfocusing on the following:

8

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Quality

Being an industry centre of excellence for our customers and partners by offering innovative, reliable, andaffordable satellite solutions.

Human Capital

Empowering our employees to succeed and become proud role models in their communities.

GrowthAnticipating and fulfilling the satellite communications needs of government, corporate and individual
customers across regions.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Our Business Lines

Overview of Service Offerings

Provides highly secure satellite connectivity and communications services for defence,
government, and mission-critical applications for land, sea, and air.

Yahsat’s mobility business, offering state-of-the art communication solutions in over 150
countries. Thuraya is the only mobile satellite services operator with roaming arrangementswith more than 370 Mobile Network Operators. It also provides innovative and reliable direct-todevice voice and data solutions to a variety of sectors including energy, government, broadcast
media, maritime, defence, aerospace, and humanitarian NGOs.

Yahsat’s data solutions arm, serving 45 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest
Asia. YahClick’s primary objective is to provide broadband connectivity to unserved andunderserved regions around the world.

Provides end-to-end solutions for internet service providers and telecommunications carriers
with high-capacity IP requirements. The solution provides satellite bandwidth and equipment,
including installation and maintenance for large bandwidth requirements.

Direct-to-home television broadcasts to more than 20 markets across the Middle East, North
Africa, Southwest Asia, and Europe.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

9About this Report

Our Approach to
Sustainability

About Yahsat

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Assessment from ESG Rating Agencies
Yahsat received several prestigious awards and accolades during the year from leading organisations
and esteemed forums acknowledging the Company’s commitment and efforts in sustainability
initiatives through innovation and empowerment. These include:

In 2023, Yahsat’s Sustainability Performance was also reviewed
by various ESG rating agencies and the results of theassessment are presented next

Yahsat was listed in Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Sustainability Leaders,highlighting Group CEO Mr. Ali Al Hashemi’s advocacy for sustainability in
the SpaceTech sector.

Yahsat won the Fast Company Middle East’s Most Innovative Company
Awards 2023 in the Social Good category, acknowledging its dedication
to providing satellite-enabled solutions for sustainability and climatechange challenges.
Yahsat achieved ‘AA’ by the MSCI ESG Rating in the Leader
Category
Yahsat won the Mobile Satellite Users Association’s (MSUA) 2023 Mobility
Satellite Innovation Award in the Land Innovation category for theThuraya Push-To-Talk solution from its mobility arm, Thuraya.

Major

CCC

B

LAGGARD
A company lagging its industry basedon its high exposure and failure to
manage significant ESG risks

Yahsat’s Human Capital Department received the prestigious Women
Empowerment Award at the GCC GOV HR Awards 2023. This is atestament to the companies’ efforts to advance women’s empowerment
in the workforce by increasing female representation in bothtechnological and leadership capacities.

BB

BBB
AVERAGE

A company with a mixed or
unexceptional track record ofmanaging the most significant ESG
risks and opportunities relative toindustry peers

A

AA

AAA

Sustainalytics rated Yahsat with a Medium Risk, achieving a score of 23.

Negligible

Low

MediumHigh

Severe0 - 10

10 - 20

20 - 30

30 - 4040+LEADER
A company leading its industry inmanaging the most significant ESG
risks and opportunities

Yahsat increased its average score to 47 out of 100
in Corporate Sustainability
Assessment.

Yahsat was recognised with the most coveted 2023 Future WorkplaceAward for the ‘Best Employer of the Year’.

10

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

11

Sustainability Highlights of 2023
Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers &Communities

Investing in People

0

12%

82%

0

1,906

0

Breaches of customer data or privacy

Competitive behaviour, corruption,
discrimination or human rights violations
reported2

Reduction in average service closure time forThuraya related services

Schools helped with internet connectivity in
Africa(850 in Zimbabwe, 636 in Ghana, 400 in
South Africa, and 20 in Rwanda)

Employee engagement score in our People
Survey, above the top-in-class benchmark

Fatalities or lost-time injuries for employees
and contractors / consultants

Business disruption events recorded with nomaterial impact on services and revenue

Satellite transponder availability maintained

99.9%

833

50%

129

52%

100%

165

159

Board Committees chaired by women

Employees completed mandated training on
Yahsat’s Code of Ethics

12

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Lives saved through “Yahsat Save Lives”
programme

Hours volunteered by Yahsat employees in
the mangrove plantation initiative

Health and Safety training hours completed
across the Company

UAE nationals among full-time direct
employees within Yahsat

Employees attended Yahsat CSR Strategy
Framework training and awareness session

Promoting Environmental
Protection

45%

Waste generated was recycled

22

EV Charging Stations installed across Yahsat
assets in the UAE100%

GHG inventory and accounting conducted
for Yahsat HQ covering all emission scopes
and sources

86.51%

Reduction in energy consumption in our
Africa data centre

500

Mangroves planted through employee
volunteering

Developing the Right
Business Partnerships

124%

Increase in the number of local suppliers
engaged in 2023

18%

Increase in local procurement spending in
2023 as compared to 2022

0

Incidents of controversial sourcing

209

AED million procurement spend on local
suppliers

100

Business Partners attended Yahsat’s Business
Partner Events in Asia and Africa

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

13

About this Report

Our Approach to
Sustainability“Yahsat achieved the “AA” Leader rating for 2023 from the MSCI.
This underscores the huge strides made by Yahsat in recent years
to accelerate our efforts towards a more innovative, efficient, andsustainable company across all our operations. It recognizes us asa leader in ESG within our industry and highlights how making boldchanges can be beneficial, for the society, environment and for soundbusiness decision-making. We are determined to continue driving
excellence in sustainability and ESG.”

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Yahsat is committed to evolving into a purposedriven organisation and a globally recognised
leader in promoting sustainable development.
The Company has made significant strides in
embedding sustainability within its corporate
ethos and decision-making framework,
contributing actively to the nationwide
sustainability initiatives in 2023, the UAE’s Yearof Sustainability.

Yahsat Sustainability Strategy andSustainability Framework
Ali Al Hashemi

Group Chief Executive Officer, Yahsat

14

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Our sustainability strategy is based on
the five-pillar Sustainability Framework
created in 2022, which outlines all the
focus areas that Yahsat is integrating
to implement sustainability into its
day-to-day business operations. Yahsat’s
Sustainability Framework guides us
to identify areas within our businesswhere we can make the most significant
sustainability impacts, helps us drive
our sustainability strategy, and identify

potential areas of improvement acrossall our operations. On a regular basis,
we aim to review the sustainability areas
impacting our business, as well as how
we address each of these areas throughour framework. This process helps us
ensure that we continue to identify andassess new or evolving material sustainability topics and to subsequently adjust
our framework, as necessary.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

15

About this Report

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

AppendicesSustainability Governance and Alignment with National and International Sustainability Frameworks
In line with the UAE 2023 Year of
Sustainability, Yahsat demonstrated its
unwavering commitment to sustainability
and implemented several projects toreflect its accountability to positively
impact people and the planet. Yahsat
formed an Environmental, Socialand Governance (ESG) function toprovide thought leadership in ESG
and sustainability matters and tosupport the implementation of various

ESG programmes within Yahsat. A
comprehensive ESG Policy has beendeveloped and approved by the Board,
based on the Yahsat Sustainability
Framework and built upon five pillars.
Key objectives and high priority action
items for each pillar, as identified in the
Sustainability Framework Roadmap,
were implemented in coordination
with the relevant departments. At the
management level, the ESG function

Abu Dhabi Economic Vision,
2030

UAE National Space Strategy,
2030

The Government’s longterm plan is focused on
the transformation of the
Emirate’s economy with areduced reliance on oil as asource of economic activity
and a greater focus on
knowledge-based industries.
The Yahsat Sustainability
Framework is aligned withthe ‘Policy Priorities’ and‘Policy Focus’ of the Abu
Dhabi Economic Vision 2030,
and it is also captured in therespective sections of thereport.

The Strategy aims toenhance the space sector’s
contribution to the national
economy and promote
the UAE’s regional andinternational presence in the
sector. Yahsat’s Sustainability
Framework is in alignment
with the ‘Strategic Goals,
Programmes, and Initiatives’of the UAE National Space
Strategy 2030, and it is also
captured in the respective
sections of the report.

16

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

provides key updates on progress to theBoard on a quarterly basis. The Board
is ultimately responsible for approving
the Sustainability Report and othersustainability-related governancedocuments and processes within Yahsat.
The Board, supported by the ESG function
and ESG Committee, has an oversight on
the execution of sustainability initiatives
across the organisation. The objectives andaction items from the Yahsat Sustainability

United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (UNSDG), 2030

A set of interlinked
objectives that serve asa “shared blueprint forpeace and prosperity forpeople and the planet now
and in the future”. Yahsat’s
Sustainability Frameworkis aligned with the ‘Goals,
Targets, and Indicators’of UN SDG 2030, and thealignment is also captured
in the respective sections of
the report.

Framework are implemented to advance
how Yahsat addresses the most pertinent
sustainability issues in its industry andcontributes to notable sustainability goals,
including the Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision
2030, the UAE National Space Strategy
2030, the United Nations Global Compact(UNGC) Principles and the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

The ten principles of the
UNGC focus on corporate
sustainability by practicing a
principles-based approach
to do business by meetinga minimum fundamental
responsibility in the areasof human rights, labour,
environment, and anticorruption. Yahsat joined
the UNGC in 2023 and is
integrating the ten core
UNGC principles. Alignment
with these principles is also
captured in the respective
sections of the report.

Additionally, Yahsat joined
two UN Climate Action
Taskforces, committing to theadoption and disseminationof industry-leading practices
to address climate change
effectively.

Change (UNFCCC) Conference or Conference of the Parties (COP) 28

The UAE hosted the 2023
UNFCCC COP28 and Yahsat
played an integral role driving
the ‘Space Sustainability
Agenda’ with a focus on
climate tech and showcasing
satellite communications
solutions in the service ofsustainability. Yahsat hosted
two sessions in the ‘Technology
and Innovation’ hub at COP28
on the ‘Nature, Land Use, andOceans’ thematic day. One of
the two sessions hosted wasa knowledge-sharing session
on “Empowering at-risk andIndigenous Communities

through Capability Building
and Technology for Climate
Adaptation and Mitigation”.
The second session was apanel discussion on the “Roleof Technology to Support
Ocean Biodiversity and Safetyof Fishermen Community”.
In total, Yahsat’s senior
management proactively
shared industry expertisein eight COP28 sessions,demonstrating technologicallyadvanced space solutions
to accelerate climate action
implementation at thecountry, regional, and global

level. During COP28, Yahsat
provided senior representative
secondment to create aplatform for the space industry
sector for the first time.
Yahsat also signed a strategic
collaboration with Greenhouse
Gas Satellite (GHGSAT)
and Abu Dhabi National Oil
Company (ADNOC), aimed at
reducing methane emissions
from the global energy sector
which was recognised at
COP28 as a flagship ‘lighthouseproject’.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

17

About this Report

Stakeholder Engagement & Materiality Assessment
Suppliers

Yahsat Key
Stakeholders

Business
Partners

Regulators& LocalGovernment

external stakeholders by conducting a survey to understand their
expectations related to the 21 sustainability material topics identified.
Stakeholders were requested to prioritise the material topics based on
potential impacts and working relations with Yahsat.

Local
Communities

3. Finalising the materiality for 2023 – The survey results were analysed based on the feedback

received from internal and external stakeholders. The results of the 2023 stakeholder engagement andmateriality assessment are presented below.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Investing in People

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Data Privacy & Security

2

Corporate Governance3

Business Ethics

4

Business Continuity & Risk Management

5

Product, Innovation & Lifecycle Management

6

Customer Relationship Management

7

Health & Safety

8

Access to Communications & Connecting Communities

9

Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion

10

Disaster Response

11

Talent Attraction, Retention & Development

12

Carbon Emissions & Climate Strategy

13

Supply Chain Management

14

Human Rights

9.00

Most Important

Environmental

Very ImportantSocial

5

8.00

1
7

7.00
Important

12

6.00

17

14

16

15

18

5.00

6

9

4

8
11

13

Governance

3

2

10

19

4.00

21

3.00
3.00

4.00

20
5.00

6.00

7.00

8.00

9.00

10.00

Significant to Business

Important

2. Stakeholder engagement – Yahsat engaged with its internal and18

1

Very Important

As part of our materiality assessment in 2023, Yahsat
followed a three-step process detailed below:

Serving Customers
and Communities

Materiality Matrix - 2023
Most ImportantCustomers

applicable regulatory requirements, relevant sustainability
reporting standards (such as Global Reporting Initiative(GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB),
the ESG Disclosure Guidance by ADX, existing national andinternational sustainability-related ambitions, ESG disclosure
expectations from ESG rating agencies, the sustainability
areas being addressed by selected Yahsat’s peers, areas ofinterest identified from Yahsat’s key stakeholders, and internalrisks and opportunities, to arrive at the list of 21 material
topics.

Reliable Corporate
Governance

10.00

Yahsat understands the importance of materiality and acknowledges it as thecornerstone of the sustainability strategy and reporting. We follow the
principles of sustainability reporting standards to showcase greatertransparency and accountability towards our stakeholders by engaging
with them periodically to identify the key material topics and their
Employees
potential impacts on the stakeholders.

1. Identification of material topics – Yahsat reviewed all the

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Significant to External Stakeholders

Our stakeholders are at the core of our strategy, and we align our operations and business decisions inline with the stakeholder expectations. Our stakeholder engagement process is structured andholistic which provides us a view of the stakeholder groups that can reasonably impact or
be impacted by Yahsat’s activities and operations. We have identified seven groups ofstakeholders as presented, and we engage with them from time to time dependingon the nature of our work and relationship with a given stakeholder group.

About Yahsat

Shareholders& Investors

15

Environmental Management

16

Community Investment

17

Energy Management

18

Competitive Behaviour

19

Responsible Sourcing

20

Sustainable Use of Space

21

Biodiversity

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

19

In 2023, we added a new material topic
that is Biodiversity. The table below
provides the change in the material
topics priority in 2023 as compared to2022. In 2023, the most material topics
were:

Rank

Material Topics

Change in Materiality
Ranking in 2023

Rank in 2022

1

Data Privacy & Security

1

2

2

Corporate Governance

3

5

3

Business Ethics

2

1

4

Business Continuity & Risk Management

1

3

5

Product, Innovation & Lifecycle Management

8

13

•

Data Privacy and Security•

Corporate Governance•Business Ethics

6

Customer Relationship Management

2

8

•

Business Continuity and Risk
Management

7

Health & Safety

4

11

•

Product, Innovation & Lifecycle
Management

8

Access to Communications & Connecting Communities

4

4

9

Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion

3

12

•

Customer RelationshipManagement

10

Disaster Response

4

6

11

Talent Attraction, Retention & Development

4

7

Health and Safety

12

Carbon Emissions & Climate Strategy

7

19

13

Supply Chain Management

1

14

14

Human Rights

1

15

15

Environmental Management

3

18

16

Community Investment

No Change

16

17

Energy Management

3

20

18

Competitive Behaviour

9

9

19

Responsible Sourcing

2

17

20

Sustainable Use of Space

10

10

21

Biodiversity

New Topic-•

In 2023, Product Innovation andLifecycle Management witnessed
the highest jump due to the launchof multiple AI and technology
powered Yahsat products for various
applications on Land, Sea andaeronautical applications for ourcustomers. The next highest rise wasobserved for Carbon Emissions andClimate Change due to awarenesscreated through carbon accounting
and an alignment exercise with Task
Force on Climate-Related Financial
Disclosures (TCFD).

20

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Reliable Corporate
Governance“Yahsat believes in robust governance processes to satisfy
stakeholders’ aspirations and societal expectations. Our approachto corporate governance extends beyond compliance with laws
and regulations. We critically analyse our governance practices toconsistently achieve the highest standards of ethical and responsible
conduct that contribute towards the long-term sustainability of theCompany.”

We are committed to operating with integrity
and maintaining the highest professionaland ethical standards in every aspect of ourbusiness. Through our established and evolving
governance structures, we aim to ensure all ouroperational activities are performed as intended,

Material Issues Covered

•
•
•
•
•

including compliance with local and international
regulations, improving business performance, andensuring stakeholders interests continue to be
met.

Business Ethics
Business Continuity & Risk Management
Competitive Behaviour
Corporate Governance
Data Privacy & Security

UAE National Space Strategy • Ensure a supporting legislative framework and infrastructure
to match the future developments in the sector
2030
Abu Dhabi Economic Vision
2030• Develop a sufficient and resilient infrastructure capable ofsupporting the anticipated economic growth

Sustainable
Development Goals

United Nations Global
Compact Principle – AntiCorruption• Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in allits forms, including extortion and bribery.

Gary Thomas Hodgson
General Counsel, Yahsat

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

21

About this Report

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Corporate GovernanceYahsat believes that robust corporate governancepractices are essential for generating enduring value
for our shareholders and the wider world. We hold our
corporate values in high regard, emphasising integrity andmaintaining a strict stance against any form of malpractice.
Our Corporate Governance Framework is comprehensive,aligning seamlessly with relevant regulatory guidelines. It
adheres to the corporate governance standards mandated
for joint stock companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities
Exchange (ADX), as prescribed by the UAE Securities andCommodities Authority (SCA). Our Corporate Governance
Framework serves as a cornerstone for overseeing theeffective implementation of laws, regulations, policies,
and procedures relevant to Yahsat. It plays a pivotal rolein aiding management in proactively addressing andmitigating the spectrum of risks that Yahsat encounters, allwithin the confines of a robust internal control framework.
Within our corporate governance structure, key governancedocuments that help manage the various risks and controls
in our corporate governance include:

01

02

03

Yahsat’s Articles of
Association (AoA)

Board of Directors (BoD)
Charter

Audit, Risk andCompliance
Committee (ARCC)
Charter

04

05

06

Nomination andRemuneration
Committee (NRC) Charter

Delegation of
Authority (DoA)
document

Corporate Policies

Board Structure, Responsibilities and Conflict of Interest
The Yahsat Board comprises of ninedistinguished individuals who bring
together a diverse and effective blend ofskills, experience, and perspectives. This
composition is aligned with the Group’s
strategic priorities, and well equipped tonavigate through the opportunities andchallenges in an ever-evolving industry. Asof 31st December 2023, the Yahsat Board
comprised of non-executive members only,22

out of which 67 percent were independent.
The categorisation of an independent
Director adheres to the definitions used
by SCA. Since becoming a publicly listedcompany in July 2021, Yahsat’s Board
members remain unchanged and haveheld their positions. Collectively, the Board
draws on a wealth of experience, as each
Director holds, or has held, leadership
positions in reputable organisations

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

across a range of relevant industries,
including telecommunications, space,defence, security, military, manufacturing,artificial intelligence, media, finance,and government sectors. For additional
information, please refer to the 2023
Corporate Governance Report on Yahsat’s
website.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi
ChairmanHE Tareq Al Hosani,
Vice Chairman

HE Maryam Al Mheiri,
DirectorPeng Xiao
Director

Badr Al Olama
Director

HE Masood M. Sharif
Mahmood
Director

Adrian Steckel
Director

Gaston Urda
Director

Board of Directors
Total number of Board members
Total number of independent members
Total number of non-independent members
Total number of executive members
Total number of non-executive members
Total Board seats occupied by men
Total Board seats occupied by women% of Board Committees chaired by men% of Board Committees chaired by women% of Board seats occupied by independent members

2020 2021 2022 2023
8
9
9
9
N/A
6
6
6
N/A
3
3
3
0
0
0
0
8
9
9
9
6
8
8
8
2
1
1
1
–
75% 50% 50%–
25% 50% 50%
N/A 67% 67% 67%

HE Rashid Al Ghafri
Director

Board decisions are executed through two channels – either at formal and quorumreaching Board meetings or via circulated resolutions endorsed by a majority of
Directors. As outlined in the Board of Directors Charter, Board meetings are scheduled
at least quarterly, with Directors having the option to participate in person or virtually.
In 2023, the Board held nine meetings, eight of which were held virtually, with anattendance rate of 90 percent.
The Board derives its authority from the UAE Companies Law and Yahsat’s Articles
of Association (AoA), with its responsibilities further outlined in the SCA Corporate
Governance Guide. In accordance with the Board of Directors (BoD) Charter, theYahsat BoD holds the pivotal role of defining the strategic direction of the Group,
which includes endorsing or approving the Company’s strategic plan, annual
budget, capital expenditures and investment, funding requirements, selecting andevaluating the Chief Executive Office (or equivalent), developing succession plans
for senior management, providing risk oversight, setting the ethical ‘tone at the top’

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

23

About this Reportand providing oversight of the overallsystem of internal control, governanceand compliance. The formulation andrefinement of the Company’s strategy
are collaborative efforts between the
Board and management, with the Board
ultimately responsible for decision-making.
While the Board holds the principal
responsibility for strategic matters, dayto-day business operations are delegatedto the Group’s management, facilitated by
a comprehensive Delegation of Authority(DoA) document.

Governance Guide, and its Group CEO isprohibited from serving as the Board Chair.
In order to avoid any situation of conflictof interest, the Directors are asked
individually, on a quarterly basis or onan ad hoc basis, to provide responses
to a detailed questionnaire regarding
independence, conflicts of interest, andother matters relevant to Yahsat or theircontinued eligibility or suitability as a
Director. This is conducted as an update to
the previous responses and is administeredby the Board Secretary.

The Board is ultimately responsible forapproving the Sustainability Report andother sustainability-related governancedocuments and processes within Yahsat,
including the Yahsat Sustainability
Framework, Yahsat ESG Policy andthe Yahsat CSR Strategy Framework.
Furthermore, it monitors the executionof sustainability initiatives acrossthe organisation. The Corporate Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs) Scorecard
includes the group-wide ESG KPI, which
is further integrated into departmental
and functional KPIs, forming an essential
component of both Board and executive
performance evaluations and incentives.
At the operational level, the ESG
function and ESG Committee, overseen
by Yahsat’s Board, provide governanceover the Sustainability Report process,the Sustainability Framework pillars, andthe progress of their implementation
through various projects and initiatives.
It is important to highlight that Yahsat
complies with the UAE SCA Corporate

24

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Board Training, Evaluation and Remuneration
At the time of appointment, all necessary
awareness and training is provided to
the Board members about the Group’sbusiness, the satellite industry, Yahsat’s
strategy, its financial position, and all
aspects of corporate governance relating
both to the Company/Group and the roleof a Director of an ADX-listed company.
The Board training is evaluated on acase-by-case basis, considering therecent trends and developments. The
Board training can be formal, or part of a

discussion at a Board meeting or retreat.
In October 2023, Corporate GovernanceTraining was provided to the Board by areputable external Law firm. The training
included various aspects of Directors’
responsibilities associated with mergers
and acquisitions, Directors’ duties, andpotential liability. Seven out of nine Board
members attended the training alongwith four members from Yahsat Senior
Management.
In November 2023, ESG and Sustainability
training was provided to the Board bya sustainability consultant updating on
the latest ESG trends, ESG investing
and market drivers, the importanceof embedding ESG into business
operations, alignment with the
Sustainable Development Goals, along withrecommendations on key priority areas for
ESG implementation at Yahsat. All Board
members, along with Yahsat’s Senior
Management members, attended thetraining on ESG and Sustainability.
The Board’s performance is evaluatedat least every three years. The Board isrequired to invite a suitably accredited
independent professional entity to assess
effectiveness and operation of the BoD,
its members, and the Board’s Committees.
The findings are communicated to
the Board and furthermore are madeavailable to the shareholders throughan appropriate channel, including theCompany’s Annual Report.

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Routine evaluation of Corporate
Governance is also carried out by anassurance function internally at Yahsat. The
Directors are also afforded an opportunity
to provide feedback through an annual
questionnaire regarding the effectivenessof the Directors individually, and the Board
collectively, the functioning of meetings,
and the quality of information presented.
This multifaceted evaluation processensures a thorough and continuous review
of corporate governance practices within
the organisation, promoting transparency,
accountability, and ongoing improvement.
The Director and Board Committee
remuneration is benchmarked against
the SCA Corporate Governance Guide,
following a thorough benchmarking
process. Yahsat issued the Board of
Directors’ Remuneration Policy during
the Annual General Meeting held in April
2022, aligned with the SCA Corporate
Governance Guide. The Company
adheres to providing full disclosure
on matters related to fees, additional
allowances, salaries, Board and Committee
remuneration, shareholdings among Board
members and their immediate relatives,
dividends, and quarterly ad-hoc disclosures
by Board members.

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Board Committees
To ensure efficient governance, Yahsat has instituted two Board-level Committees: the ‘Audit, Risk and Compliance
Committee (ARCC)’ and the ‘Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC)’.
1. Audit Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC)
The Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (ARCC) is governed by the ARCC Charter and provides
invaluable support to the Board by overseeing governance, risk management, and internal controls
including ESG planning and implementation. The ARCC structure adheres to the UAE Securities andCommodities Authority (SCA) Corporate Governance Guide. It is composed of five members, threeof whom are independent non-executive Directors and two non-Director members. One of the
independent non-executive Directors serves as the Chairman of the ARCC. In 2023, the ARCC held five
duly constituted and quorate meetings. The attendance rate of the ARCC was 84 percent in 2023.
2. Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC)
The NRC plays a pivotal role in addressing various human resource matters, including matters related
to independence, conflict, and the remuneration of Board members. The NRC assists the Board in theefficient management of compensation and general human resources matters. The NRC regulates andoversees the nomination of the members of the Board and verifies the ongoing independence of the
independent members of the Board. The NRC seeks to ensure that the Group attracts the most suitable
Board members and Officers and that such persons are retained, through appropriate structuring of theGroup’s compensation plans, policies, and programmes, providing incentives for such persons to perform
to the best of their abilities for the Group and promoting the success of the Group’s businesses. The NRC
structure adheres to the SCA Corporate Governance Guide and consists of five members, four of whom
are non-executive Directors and one non-Director member. Of the four non-executive Directors, two are
independent members, one of whom serves as the Chairman of the NRC. In 2023, the NRC held three
duly constituted and quorate meetings. The attendance rate of the NRC was 80 percent in 2023.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

25

About this Report

Business Ethics and Competitive Behaviour
Yahsat’s Ethics and Compliance(E&C) function takes the leadin developing and supporting
all aspects of the ethics
and compliance programmethroughout the Yahsat Group.
This function is responsible forsupervising adherence to the
Yahsat Code of Ethics within
the organisation, ensuring
compliance with relevant laws,
regulatory requirements, policies,
and procedures. Additionally, it

strives to enhance the value andefficiency of Yahsat’s operations
and activities. The E&C function
regularly reports to the ARCC on
matters related to compliance andintegrity in Yahsat’s day-to-day
business operations. It is important
to note that Yahsat’s Code of
Ethics applies to all individuals,
including employees, Directors,
officers, and representatives of
the Yahsat Group, encompassing
both Yahsat itself and its controlled

Conflict of Interest Policy

Competition Law Policy

Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy

Related Party Transactions Policy

Business Partner Due Diligence Policy

Risk Management and Internal
Control Policy

Personal Trading Policy

Fraud Risk Management Policy

Securities Trading Policy

Information Securities Policy

Data Privacy Policy

Dividend Policy

Corporate Communication Policy

Compliance Guide Relating to
Inside Information

Investor Relations Policy

Financial Reporting Manual andAccounting Policies Manual

Export Control and Sanctions
Compliance Policy

26

subsidiaries. We also require ourcontractors, partners, consultants,
and suppliers to adhere to the
Yahsat Business Partner Codeof Conduct. The Code of Ethics
is supplemented and supported
by a number of policies, whichprescribe standards of conduct andoffer further detailed guidance on
how the principles enshrined in the
Code of Ethics are to be applied. Allsuch corporate governance policies
include:Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

The Ethics & Compliance (E&C) function continuously engages with
employees throughout the year. In 2023, the E&C function designed ane-learning module for all employees which included a range of topics such as:

Introduction to Ethics and Compliance
TicTak Gamified e-learning covering ‘Conflicts of Interest’,‘Speaking up’, ‘Business Partner Due Diligence’, ‘Anti Bribery
and Corruption’, ‘Personal Trading’, and ‘Ethical Values’
Fraud Risk AwarenessInternal Audit AwarenessExport Control AwarenessInformation Security AwarenessRefresher on the Yahsat E&C Application
Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Awareness
ESG Policy Awareness
Reporting and Investigation of E&C Matters

In 2023, 100% of our employees completed mandated training on

Yahsat’s Code of Ethics.

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

The E&C function also provided specificawareness training on Export Control for
staff working closely with controlled items
and for Export Control Champions.
The Yahsat E&C function also obtained an
acknowledgement from all employees toensure that everyone across the Group is
fully committed to our values and ethicalprinciples. The acknowledgement covered
areas including conflicts of interest
disclosures as well as acknowledgement of
the Code of Ethics and associated policies.
As per Yahsat’s Code of Ethics, we arecommitted to conducting business inaccordance with the highest ethicalstandards and prohibit all forms of Bribery
and Corruption. We follow global antibribery and corruption laws and avoid
the appearance of any conflict of interest
that might violate applicable laws, harm
relationships or impact organisational
reputation. We are also mindful of
forming strategic partnerships withgovernments and of the special risks
and responsibilities those relationships
carry. We follow international commercial
laws and standards, including intellectual
property protections, insider trading andanti-competitive conduct prohibitions,and provisions governing imports, exports,
and international trade. We do not
involve Yahsat, directly or indirectly, withany form of political or electoral activity.
Any lobbying activities must be legal, forlegitimate reasons, and ethical. Gifts must
not consist of a charitable donation or
donation to a political party. Yahsat’s E&C
function along with the Risk Management

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

and Internal Control (RMIC) Framework
strives to assist the organisation andintegrate risk management and internal
control into all its activities and functions,
including any aspect of corruption andbribery as outlined in the Yahsat Code of
Ethics.
Yahsat’s Code of Ethics is intended
to enable the Group to achieve its
commercial goals while operating withthe highest levels of integrity. In 2023,
no instances of corruption, competitive
behaviour, discrimination, or human rights
issues were reported.

Whistleblowing andHelpline
We have a reporting platform andmechanism in place to report any violationon the Code of Ethics using our ethics andcompliance helpline. Additionally, there isa dedicated email address through which
employees can raise concerns or seek
clarifications. An external-facing email
address has also been set up, to enable
external parties or business partners toraise any concerns.

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendicesand confidential channel for individuals
to report any concerns, misconduct, or
unethical behaviour occurring within
Yahsat. It serves as a medium where
employees, stakeholders, or external
parties can share information regarding
activities that may be detrimental, in
violation of rules, or inconsistent with
Yahsat’s values. Yahsat Voice’s primaryobjectives include promoting transparency,
accountability, and ethical behaviour
within the organisation. By offering
a secure and anonymous avenue forindividuals to voice their concerns, Yahsat
Voice facilitates the early identification andresolution of issues, cultivating a cultureof integrity and ensuring that problems
are addressed in a just and responsible
manner. For additional information pleaserefer to the 2023 Corporate Governance
Report on Yahsat’s website.

Helpline no: 02-507 6446
Internal email: ethics@yahsat.ae
External email: compliance@yahsat.ae
In 2023, we introduced Yahsat Voice,a third party managed whistleblowing
portal which aims to provide a secure

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

27

About this Report

Business Continuity and Risk Management
Business Continuity (BC)Yahsat has a comprehensive Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) Manual which is aligned with the ‘ISO 22301:2019 Security and resilience – Business continuity
management system Requirements’, ‘National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) – The National Standard for Business Continuity Management System(Specifications) AE/SCNS/NCEMA 7000:2021’, and the ‘Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA)’.

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

AppendicesBusiness Continuity Performance
In 2023, Yahsat’s Business Continuity Management (BCM)
function focussed on three principle Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs) and achieved the yearly targets in line withits 2023 plan. The BCM function successfully completed 100
percent testing, achieving above the 80 percent target of theannual BC testing plan.
The BCM function continuously reviews
and monitors the major BC related
threats. As of 2023, seventeen major
BCM threats have been identified
as per the library of BCM threats
categories, such as earthquakes, floods,
sandstorms, extreme temperatures,water leakages, pandemic, building
collapse, fire, power outages, vandalism,
sabotage, cybersecurity incidents, lossof key personnel, etc. Our BCM practiceincorporates comprehensive measures toaddress such threats and this approachequips Yahsat with the necessary tools to
respond effectively to diverse emergency
situations.

#
1
2
3

BCM KPIs
Compliance against planned business impact analysis activities
Level of testing achieved against annual BC testing plan
Continuous Improvement activities carried out for the BC programme

The risks associated with the COVID-19
pandemic continue to be monitored
as per government guidelines, andwe continue to provide two working
schedules with flexible timings andoptions for remote working. In 2023, a
small number of business disruption
events were recorded, however noneof the events reported caused any
material losses to Yahsat, its Partners
and its customers. In 2023, Yahsat swiftly
recovered from a significant technicalissue at one of its gateways and thwarted
a Distributed Denial of Services (DDoS)
cyber-attack, both without any material
impact on services or revenue.

2020 2021 2022 2023
1
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
-

Actual
100%
100%
84%

Case Study
Information Technology Disaster Recovery (ITDR)
Solution
In 2023, the BCM function procured, built, and implemented a brand-new ITDR Solution. It
is located at the Sharjah PGW Office to geographically separate the primary and backup
sites. Previously, the ITDR solution was hosted by a third party at their Headquarter in
Abu Dhabi. This project contributed to the ‘Serving Customers and Communities’ pillarof the Yahsat Sustainability Framework and offers efficient backup and disaster recovery
solutions to the customers and communities that Yahsat serves. This new solution provides
the following benefits to Yahsat:••••

Business Disruption Events
Total number of Business Disruption Events
Technical failure
Cyber attacks
Weather events, natural disasters

Target
100%
80%
80%

•

Provides a brand-new state-of the-art infrastructure and application within Yahsat.
Offers a geographical separation increase of over 400% from 30Km to 130Km.
Provides 100% daily backup of all the data, providing an efficient and effective data
backup system.
Supports failover and resume critical corporate applications within the defined
Recovery Time Objectives.
Reduces dependency on third parties and increases self-sufficiency and internal
capabilities in terms of activation and maintenance of the solution.

Yahsat has already completed two successful corporate level IT drills for failing over of theservices to the PGW site. A critical services drill is planned for 2024.

This is a testament of Yahsat’s internal controls and comprehensive BCP and BCMS
that stand resilient against operational challenges observed in the SpaceTech sector.

28

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

29

About this Report

Risk Management
Yahsat has implemented an integrated Risk
Management and Internal Control (RMIC)
Framework. The underlying methodology
is based on relevant principles set forth

by the International Organization forStandardization (ISO) and the Committeeof Sponsoring Organisations of theTreadway Commission (COSO). Yahsat’s

approach has been developed inaccordance with the Three Lines Modelof the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).
It is objective-centric and aims to ensure

The internal risk and control system is embedded across the Yahsat Group at three levels:

01
02
03

Management’s duty to effectively identify, assess and manage the main risks for Yahsat (‘firstline’).
The risk, internal control, information security, business continuity, health and safety, andcompliance functions facilitate the business in assessing their risks by the development,
communication, training, and monitoring of governance, risk and compliance-related
policies, processes, and frameworks (‘second line’).
Yahsat’s internal audit function provides independent objective assurance and advice overYahsat’s operations (‘third line’).

Yahsat RMIC is aligned with the
Sustainability Framework and contributed
to the ‘Reliable Corporate Governance’
pillar. In 2023, the RMIC function played a
key role in implementing the Sustainability
Framework by supporting the independent
assurance of ESG related KPIs within theorganisation. Additionally, it supported
the development and assignment of 2023
ESG Action Plans based on the 3-Year
Sustainability Framework Roadmap.
Yahsat RMIC is an assurance function
established to create and safeguard value
for the Group. The RMIC team endeavours
to assist the Group in embedding risk
management and internal control into
existing/regular business processes,
strengthening the first line. For risk
30

management activities, Yahsat has adopted
the ISO 31000:2018 Risk management Guidelines. For internal control, Yahsat
applies the COSO Internal Control –Integrated Framework: 2013 principles.
Yahsat’s Internal Control over Financial
Reporting (ICOFR) Framework complies
with the requirements set forth in the Abu
Dhabi Accountability Authority (ADAA)
Resolution No. 1 of 2017. The RMIC function
reports administratively to Yahsat’s GroupCEO and functionally to the ARCC.
In 2023, the RMIC function conductedtraining and capacity building of
employees in the areas of Fraud Risk
Management, Internal Audit Awareness,
Tailored IT Audit Training for crossfunctional groups in the Sharjah and Abu

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Dhabi Offices, and Risk Management
Awareness sessions for inductees.
During 2023, Yahsat has not been subject
to any material fines or penalties imposedby any government instrumentality,
statutory authority, or regulator.
Additionally, no significant issues wereidentified concerning non-compliancewith rules or regulations, compliance, andinternal controls.

the effective management of risks thathave the potential to obstruct Yahsat fromachieving its strategic objectives.

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Data Privacy and Security
Yahsat understands the need for information
security and data privacy for its customers and otherstakeholders, particularly in the context of providing
secured satellite communications. We adhere to the
UAE Signal Intelligence Agency (SIA) (formerly known
as National Electronic Security Authority - NESA),
as well as Mubadala’s Information Security Forum(ISF) Security Frameworks. We have an Information
Security Framework that is aligned with ‘ISO/IEC
27000 family Information security management’. It isa series of mutually supporting information security
standards that helps Yahsat comply with all relevant
Information Security related regulations and policies,

as well as other related standards and frameworks,
including the National Institute of Standards andTechnology and the Centre for Internet Security. The
Yahsat Information Security Framework, designed
to comply with various regulatory and customer
requirements, comprises of several individual
policies which, together, provide a comprehensive
framework to secure Yahsat’s Information Technology(IT) environment and ensure proper handling of
information. The Framework includes an Information
Security Policy which is further supported byadditional policies such as:

Data Privacy Policy

Information Security and Data
Retention Policy

Data Classification and Protection Policy

Third Party Security Policy

Information Asset Management Policy

Removable Media Protection Policy

Data Centre Policy and Code of Conduct

Secure Systems Development
Procedure

Access Control Policy

Change Control Management Policy
and Procedure

Anti-Malware Management Policy

Information Security Risk Management
PolicyInformation Security IncidentManagement Policy

Vulnerability Management Policy

Information Security and Training Policy

Acceptable Use Policy

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

AppendicesIn 2023, the Information Security Framework contributed to the
Sustainability Framework pillar of ‘Reliable Corporate Governance’
by providing strong corporate governance around the data
privacy and security, ‘Serving Customers and Communities’ by
providing resilient and secured data protection systems to avoid
any data losses, and ‘Investing in People’ by providing mandatory
training to all employees on the ‘Information Security Framework’.
In 2023, Data Privacy and Security was one of the most importantmaterial topics for Yahsat. We recognise the criticality of the data
privacy and information security of all our stakeholders and thus
we have maintained a comprehensive governance structure aspart of our Information Security Framework. Our relevant policies
are aligned with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to
provide appropriate controls within our IT infrastructure.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

31

About this Report

Data Privacy and Security Performance

Economic Impact

In 2023, no incidents of customer data leaks, theft, data loss, or breach of customer
privacy were reported, and no incidents were reported for customer data being
used for secondary purposes. Aligned with our policy, we have implemented
comprehensive controls and maintained zero data privacy and information
security incidents for four consecutive years by keeping a check on cyber threats,
programming errors, phishing, and technical event outages of the satellites.

At Yahsat, economic performance plays
a key role in contributing to the ‘Reliable
Corporate Governance’ pillar of the Yahsat
Sustainability Framework. Yahsat’s financial
performance is disclosed on an annual
basis through the Annual Report which isavailable on Yahsat’s website.

As per our Information Security and Training Policy, we strive to continuously provide
training and raise awareness among the employees on any new developments andupdates to the Information Security Framework. In 2023, 100% of our employees
received training on the Yahsat Information Security Framework and policies. Internal
communications are sent to employees periodically about various phishing emails
clearly highlighting the instructions to be followed for reporting any incident,
communication on technical outages, communication on the Information Security
Framework, and the necessary controls.

Since becoming a publicly listed company
in 2021, Yahsat has developed andaligned various policies for financial
and governance matters with the UAE
Securities and Commodities Authority(SCA) Corporate Governance Guide.
Yahsat has a comprehensive Financial
Reporting Manual and Accounting
Policies Manual, which helps the Financial
Reporting team to provide complete,timely and reliable financial information.
The Financial Reporting team utilises
its robust processes, systems, tools, andeffective internal controls to discloseand deliver the Financial Report, which isaligned with the International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS), covering all
the necessary disclosures of stakeholders’interests. The Financial Reporting Manualoutlines the reporting framework andguidelines for the reporting function. At
the same time, the Accounting Policies
Manual elaborates on the Group’s
accounting policies, including practicalguidance on key accounting topics
that all Group entities must follow andconsistently apply while preparing financial
statements.
Yahsat has an Investor Relations Policy
which showcases its commitment todeliver timely, impartial, and precise
disclosures of significant information to
the public, by adhering to the guidelines
and regulations set forth by the UAE
Securities and Commodities Authority(SCA), Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange(ADX), and contemporary industry
standards. Yahsat has set up a dedicatedInvestor Relations function under the
Finance department to effectively
implement the Investor Relations
Policy. This policy lays out the processes
and values to ensure that informationis communicated to investors andshareholders in a fair, timely, and accurate
manner.

Economic Performance
In 2023, the direct economic value generated because of Yahsat’s operation was up by
10% as compared to 2022, and the overall economic value retained by the Company
stood at USD 149 million which was 14% higher than 2022. Yahsat also made significant
contribution in distributing the economic value which was also up by nearly 8% in 2023
as compared to 2022.

32

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

#
1.
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
3.

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
GovernanceDirect Economic Value Generated
Direct economic value generated (Revenues)
Economic Value Distributed
Operating expenses
Employee wages and benefits
Payments to providers of capital
Payments to government (Total)
Economic value retained (Direct Economic
Value Generated' - Economic Value Distributed)

Yahsat’s UAE National employees are entitled toretirement benefit plans, and expats are eligible forthe end-of-service gratuity as administered by the Abu
Dhabi Pension Fund. The contribution by UAE Nationals
and Yahsat for the retirement plan has been consistent
at 5 percent by the employee and 15 percent by theemployer, respectively, since 2020. As the contributions
for pensions and end-of-service benefits are mandatory
as per the UAE Labour Law and Abu Dhabi Pension
Fund Law, the level of participation is 100 percent byboth the employee and the employer as applicable. The
financial assistance received by Yahsat, and the extent
of government shareholding in Yahsat is captured indetail in the Annual Report 2023 available on the Yahsat
website.

Serving Customers
and Communities

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Investing in People

Unit
USD million
USD million
USD million
USD million
USD million
USD million

2020 2021 2022 2023
426 410 445 488
265 334 314 339
92
84
93
111
84
86
85
84
76
150 116 120
13
14
20
24

USD million

161

76

131

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices149

In 2023, Yahsat contributed significantly to the indirect
economic impact by investing in the infrastructure andservices for offering leasing of satellite communication
capacity, end-to-end integrated satellite communicationand managed services, and providing fixed and mobile
telecommunication services via satellites to customers.
Investments in indirect economic impact witnessed a 35
percent increase in 2023 compared to 2022.
Yahsat aims to continue monitoring its economic
performance to showcase its commitment to its
shareholders and stakeholders. As we continue toexpand Yahsat’s services, we understand the need tocontinuously develop and enhance our financial systems
to contribute to cost efficiency for internal processes.

Investment in Infrastructure and Services (USD million)
474
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

350
218
77
2020

2021

2022

2023

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

33

About this Report

Serving Customers
and Communities“Yahsat has a strong customer-centric approach across all its
operations by offering essential satellite communications. We
are committed to provide reliable, efficient, and accessible rapid
aid during crises in disaster-struck areas to save lives, offer
connectivity to unserved and underserved communities and support
environmental protection through our cutting-edge SpaceTech
climate solutions.”

Our commitment lies in delivering cutting-edge
satellite solutions that are both innovative andcost-effective to customers and communities
globally. Through our technological expertiseand a customer-focused mindset, we aim to not
only meet but exceed customer expectations,ensuring their utmost satisfaction with ourMaterial Issues Covered

•
•
•
•

offerings. Furthermore, our goal is to establish
ourselves as a pioneer in delivering dependable
and swift disaster relief services. We are dedicatedto bridging the digital divide by expanding
connectivity and addressing the factors that havecontributed to this divide.

Access to Communications & Connecting Communities
Community Investment
Customer Relationship Management
Disaster Response

technology manufacturing and R&D

Abu Dhabi Economic Vision
2030• Develop a sufficient and resilient infrastructure capable ofsupporting the anticipated economic growth

Sustainable
Development Goals

Chief Operations Officer, Yahsat

34

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Customer Relationship Management

UAE National Space Strategy • Provision of competitive and leading space services• Development of advanced local capacities in Space
2030

Khalid Abdalla Omar Al Kaf

About Yahsat

United Nations Global
Compact Principles –Environment

Yahsat is committed to customer service
excellence through its centralised
Customer Care Unit (CCU), implementing
various programmes to ensure service
quality, customer experience, andinteraction assessment. The Company
continuously enhances customer
service through Customer RelationshipManagement (CRM) training, robust
issue escalation protocols, and advanced
CRM systems. Yahsat is dedicated tosetting formal CRM commitments,
targets, and KPIs, and aligning its
strategies with global best practices
to meet customer needs and uphold
service excellence consistently.
Yahsat’s customer-centric approach in2023 focused on enhancing interactions
and service delivery, driven by ourcentralised CCU. We worked extensively
on various business partnerships suchas:
1.

A partnership with Hughes Network
Systems to provide operations/business support solutions for
YahClick services.

2.

A partnership with DM World, an
ISO 9001:2015 (Quality management
system Requirements) certified
company, to focus on digitaltransformation. This collaboration
aims to serve global enterprises by• Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary
approach to environmental challenges.

• Principle 8: Undertake initiatives to promote greater•

environmental responsibility.
Principle 9: Encourage the development and diffusion ofenvironmentally friendly technologies.

offering the Freshdesk solution as
an advanced ticketing system forThuraya’s services.
3.

A partnership with ManageEngine
to develop service desk solutions
to track incidents and change
requests.

Our ongoing focus has been on the
deployment of customer-centric
initiatives, concentrating on quality
assurance, customer satisfaction
measurement, and quality assessmentsof customer interactions. We have
optimised our customer care Interactive
Voice Response (IVR) system by
eliminating unnecessary language
options ensuring smooth access toour agents. Additionally, we enhanced
Thuraya’s online services for scratch
card refills and implemented OneTime Passwords (OTP) for improved
user convenience. Consequently, ourdedication to enhancing network
components, internal procedures, andsystems has led to greater operational
efficiency and network reliability,
reducing the necessity for service
partners to contact Customer Care.
Customer Care has been enhanced
through the implementation of welldefined policies and procedures, which
include a Service Level Agreement(SLA) between Customer Care andYahsat Operations teams. The SLA has
helped in streamlining the process ofclosing the service requests or cases of
escalations within the agreed turnaround time aligned to the Change
Control Board (CCB) and Root Cause
Analysis (RCA). The CCB is a set ofgovernance procedures for performing
planned system activities for situationsof service interruption and sending
timely notifications to the internaland external stakeholders. RCA isthe channel to provide transparent
reporting to our Service Partners forany unplanned incidents that may cause
service interruption, and it supports
in identifying preventive actions to
avoid re-occurrence of the same event.
The use of various communication
channels, and a commitment to prompt
acknowledgment, comprehensive
investigation, and effective resolution ofissues drives continuous improvements.
As part of the process, the Customer
Care Unit (CCU) periodically reviews thecases of recurring service requests todevelop permanent solutions to prevent
any future potential service disruptions.

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Customer RelationshipManagement Performance
At Yahsat, we monitor Customer Satisfaction(CSAT) on an annual basis, and it is also
considered as one of the most important metrics
measured and tracked by our CCU. CSAT, refers
to the satisfaction level of our customers for the
products and services offered by Yahsat. In 2023,
Yahsat proudly maintained a strong performancein the high 70s percentile for Customer
Satisfaction (CSAT) for the Thuraya service whileachieving an impressive 21 percent growth for
YahClick compared to the previous year. The
overall CSAT score for combined Thuraya and
YahClick services improved by nearly 10 percent
in 2023 as compared to 2022.

Customer
Satisfaction(CSAT Scores)

1

2

Thuraya

YahClick

2021

53%

37%

2022

79%

52%

2023

77%

73%

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

35

About this Report

For any complaint or request raised by the customers, there are two levels of
support available. Yahsat’s service partners offer the first level of support, andthey handle the in-country sales and service operations for end users of Yahsat’s
products and services. If the first level of support is not able to resolve a complaintor answer a request, it is escalated to Yahsat which is the second level of support.
In most cases, escalated complaints or requests are resolved by the first levelof support by the respective service partners after appropriate guidance from
Yahsat. In 2023, the number of customer complaints, issues or enquiries received
by Thuraya witnessed a reduction for a second consecutive year. Similarly, YahClick
reported a reduction of 155 complaints or issues received from customers incomparison to 2022, coupled with a 14 percent reduction in total inquiries andchange requests, which indicates a positive trend in customer service efficiency.
Customer Complaints & Requests
2020 2021
2022
2023
Thuraya
Total complaints/issues received (#)
3,950 4,200 3,933
3,917
Total enquiries or change requests received (#) 15,442 16,795 16,764 16,578
YahClick
Total complaints/issues received (#)
4,194 3,653 3,730 3,575
Total enquiries or change requests received (#) 5,304 4,671 4,719 4,071
In 2023, Yahsat saw a 12 percent reduction in the average service closure time forThuraya related services. Average waiting time for customers remained consistentat 10 minutes, while the average service time for the service request reduced by
14 percent on the average service time (average handling time) in comparison to2022, down to just 66 minutes.
Thuraya - Average Service/Ticket Time
Average Service Closure Time
Customer Care – Average Wait Time
Customer Care – Average Service Time
(Average Handling Time)

Unit
Minutes
Minutes

2021 2022 2023
76
85
76
10
10
10

Minutes

66

75

66

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Satellite Availability Performance

Yahclick Gateway Availability

In 2023, the Customer Care Unit (CCU) introduced a new Change Management and IncidentManagement Process. This enhancement allowed the Customer Care team to surpassthe response time targets for Thuraya and YahClick tickets. Throughout the year, Yahsat
consistently upheld a 99.9 percent availability rate for its Satellite Network/Service. For the
fourth consecutive year, YahClick managed to reduce its service interruption time with an
improved reduction of nearly 200 percent in service interruption between 2020 to 2023,
whilst maintaining the same total number of annual service time hours.

Satellite gateways, serving as ground stations linked to a network operation centre withinternet connectivity, facilitate the exchange of data (both transmission and reception)with satellites in orbit. The reliability of these gateways, crucial for data exchange with
Yahsat’s satellites, has maintained an impressive average availability exceeding 99.9
percent over the past four years.

Satellite Availability
Thuraya Availability (%)
Total Service Time (Hours)
Service Interruption Time (Hours)
YahClick Availability (%)
Total Service Time (Hours)
Service Interruption Time (Hours)

2020
99.97%
8,784
2.96
99.96%
8,784
3.86

2021
99.92%
8,760
7.36
99.97%
8,760
2.63

2022
99.98%
8,760
1.58
99.98%
8,760
1.66

2023
99.93%
8,760
6.48
99.99%
8,760
1.31

Satellites transmit data using transponders across various frequencies, including C, Ku, Ka,
and L, within Yahsat’s satellite fleet. The measure of transponder availability indicates theduration for which a satellite’s transponders are functional and actively transmitting data.
Factors like satellite anomalies, issues with incoming data, or configuration challenges
can disrupt transponder functionality. Over the past four years, Yahsat’s satellites havedemonstrated exemplary performance, with average transponder availability surpassing 99.9
percent. Notably, almost all satellites achieved 100 percent availability throughout 2023.
Satellite
AY 1

Band
C- BandKu - Band
Ka- Band
Ka- Band
Ka- Band
L- Band
L- Band2020
99.87%
99.80%
99.85%
100%
100%
100%
100%

2021
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
99.96%
99.92%

Satellite

AY 2

AY 3

Gateway Location
Luxembourg
AthensMadridAbu Dhabi
AthensLuxembourg2020
99.89%
99.93%
99.94%
99.98%
99.94%
99.88%

2021
99.98%
99.98%
99.95%
100%
99.98%
99.97%

2022
99.98%
99.98%
99.98%
100%
99.96%
99.96%

2023
99.97%
99.95%
99.95%
100%
99.97%
99.98%

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

In 2023, Yahsat’s contributions to disaster
response were notably impactful. Ouradvanced satellite communications
were instrumental in 8 natural disaster
incidents such as earthquakes, flooding
and distress calls at sea, where Yahsat
satellite phones played a crucial rolein the rescue operations saving the
lives of approximately 129 individuals
across various regions worldwide,
including Morocco, Turkey, Japan, Italy,
South China, Libya, and Afghanistan.
Additionally, Yahsat provided support
to more than 300 individuals facing
distress situations resulting from humanactivities. Leveraging a combination of

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Thuraya and Yahsat solutions, the teamefficiently delivered multiple services,
including activating sim cards andproviding free talk-time to address thepressing requirements of the affected
communities in a timely manner. Thurayasatellite phones were also deployedduring the disaster response efforts in
Malawi following Cyclone Freddy that
impacted nations in Africa close to thesouth-west Indian Ocean.
These actions reflect our ethos ofutilising our technological capabilities toserve communities globally, especially intimes of crisis.

Disaster Response

Satellite Transponder Availability

AY 2
AY 3
T2
T3

36

About Yahsat

2022
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
99.99%

2023
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
99.95%

Yahsat is at the forefront of supportingorganisations in their efforts to mitigate
humanitarian crises, providing state-ofthe-art satellite communication solutions
to both government and non-government
entities. As a committed signatory of the
UN Crisis Connectivity Charter, Yahsat
is dedicated to improving its services,establishing firm commitments for disaster
response, and fostering innovation infields such as disaster warnings and rapid
deployment, reaffirming its commitment
to lead in crisis connectivity solutions.
Yahsat’s approach to Disaster Responseemphasises our commitment to providing
reliable satellite communication services
during natural disasters, ensuring

uninterrupted connectivity for emergency
search and rescue missions. In November
2023, Yahsat unveiled its ‘Disaster
Response Commitment,’ a comprehensive
plan detailing proactive service request
management, resource allocation, distresssignal response, and collaboration withsearch and rescue entities. Furthermore,
Yahsat pledges continuous monitoring,
resource management, and data analysis
for connection requests, maintaining
updated records, and ensuring robust
back-office support to enhance disaster
response effectiveness. Yahsat’s Disaster
Response Commitment aligns withand enhances the ‘Yahsat Saves Lives’programme, an operational support
protocol established in the preceding year.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

37

About this Report

Date
February2023

February
2023

April 2023

Type of Incident

Area

Yahsat satellite phones facilitated necessary communication
for rescue and humanitarian support during an earthquake.
Yahsat’s Global Network Operations Centre (NOC) was
alerted to a distress call received from a customer insouthwest Morocco, reporting a damaged boat at sea withDistress call
Moroccoaround 56 passengers, predominantly elderly individuals,
at Sea (Southwest) women, and children. The caller urgently requested
immediate rescue due to the passengers’ exhaustion, andthe looming risk of the boat sinking if left adrift for much
longer.
North African Yahsat satellite phones facilitated necessary communication
Distress call
Regionfor rescue and distress support.
Earthquake

TurkeyMay 2023

EarthquakeJapan

May 2023

Distress callat SeaItaly

May 2023

September
2023
September
2023
October
2023
October
2023

Details

Distress callat SeaChina Sea

Earthquake

MoroccoFlooding

Libya

Earthquake

Afghanistan

Distress call

Middle East
RegionYahsat satellite phones facilitated necessary communication
for rescue and humanitarian support during an earthquake.
Received a distress call from a Thuraya user in the
Mediterranean Sea.
In a search and rescue operation spanning international
waters, Yahsat and its mobility arm, Thuraya
Telecommunications Company, worked closely with Chinese
governmental agencies, including China’s Embassy in the
UAE and its Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination
Centre (MRCC) to save a group of Chinese fishermen lost atsea.
Yahsat satellite phones facilitated necessary communication
for rescue and humanitarian support during an earthquake.
Yahsat satellite phones facilitated necessary communication
for rescue and humanitarian support during flooding.
Yahsat satellite phones facilitated necessary communication
for rescue and humanitarian support during an earthquake.
Yahsat satellite phones facilitated necessary communication
for rescue and distress support.

No. ofPeopleAssisted
34

56

306
5
7

5

2
4
16
1

when any natural disaster is reported in countries
covered by Yahsat and Thuraya services, and act on
emergency requests to enable service for people indistress and remote areas. It will help in monitoring
the quality of service in the affected areas and willproactively address the necessary requirements toprovide uninterrupted satellite connection to every
request initiated. To assess the effectiveness of our
Operation Support Agreement, we also monitor KPIs as
part of our actions on the disaster related situations,the target and performance for 2023 is provided below:
Key Performance
Unit Target
Indicator (KPIs)
Disaster support
provided with timely
and successfulconnectivity and%75
relief of the total
disaster support
requests received.
Disaster responsetime from the time No. of80
disaster information Hours
is first received.
Network
connectivity
provided in the%94
disaster affectedarea out of the total
beam capacity.

Achieved

80

77

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Case Study
Yahsat Saves Lives
On 21st of February 2023, Yahsat demonstrated its critical role in emergency responseby aiding a distressed vessel carrying 56 individuals near southwest Morocco.
Leveraging its advanced satellite capabilities, Yahsat’s prompt action facilitated therescue of passengers, including women and children, who were at imminent risk
due to their boat’s deteriorating condition. This intervention exemplifies Yahsat’s
dedication to its ‘Serving Customer and Communities’ pillar, providing not justconnectivity but also ensuring the safety and security of individuals in dire situations
through its reliable communications solutions.

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Access to Communications,
Connecting Communities &Community Investment
Access to Communications
Yahsat is actively involved in global collaborations aimed at boosting internet
connectivity and enabling information access, particularly for unserved andunderserved communities. Our initiatives include not only providing robustinternet connectivity and supporting e-learning, but also offering Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) training, telemedicine, and healthcarecommunications, especially during humanitarian crises. We are committed to bridging
the digital divide by enhancing communication access, delivering targeted training,supporting global digital cooperation initiatives, and improving services for disaster
response and business continuity.
Yahsat continues to provide a range of technological enhancements which weresystematically introduced to the network components and systems that serve ourcustomer base. Tailored improvements were executed for each of our primarycustomer segments, each benefiting from networks and systems specifically designed
to meet their unique needs. Yahsat’s technologies and services enable access tocommunications in the following ways:

94

Our actions reflect our unwavering commitment tohumanitarian assistance, as we strive to save lives,
serve communities, and support recovery efforts with
our reliable, advanced connectivity solutions.

To reinforce our commitment to the Yahsat Saves Lives programme and contribute to the Sustainability Framework of
Yahsat, we have developed an Operation Support Agreement. The purpose of the procedure is to execute in the situations

38

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

39

About this Report

Communication support provided

Yahsat Services

Corporate

Thuraya

YahClickYahsat Government
Solutions

Yahsat provides tailored solutions thatcater to the unique communicationneeds of businesses, ensuring reliable
connectivity that supports corporate
operations and enables efficient
communication, thus fostering growthand connectivity in the corporate
sector.

Specialises in providing criticalcommunication solutions acrossvarious sectors including energy,
enterprise, government, leisure,marine, media, and relief efforts.
These solutions ensure reliable andsecure communications, especiallyin unserved and underserved
remote areas, thereby connecting
communities, and facilitating
operations in critical situations.
Thuraya’s offerings in maritime
solutions like the Thuraya MarineStar
and services such as Thuraya Aero for
air communications, Thuraya VSAT+ forenhanced broadband, and advanced
land vehicle tracking with Thuraya
SatTrack, exemplify its commitment
to keeping communities connectedacross land, sea, and air.

Instrumental in connecting
underserved and remote communities
by providing broadband services.
This plays a crucial role in bridging
the digital divide, offering accessto essential services like education,
healthcare, and government services,and fostering socio-economic
development in these regions.

Specialises in delivering secure,reliable, and comprehensive satellite
communication solutions togovernment entities. This ensures thatgovernment operations, especiallyin remote areas or during criticalmissions, are supported by robust
communication networks, thereby
aiding governance and administrative
functions in serving communities
effectively.

The communities we serve are often situated in remote locations or lack essential telecommunication infrastructure. Our efforts have successfully provided efficient communication
solutions to various communities across the world, including regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia. The wide-ranging initiatives have not only provided
connectivity to these areas but also opened doors to e-learning for communities in Africa, advanced healthcare and telemedicine services, and training in information andcommunication technologies.

40

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

In 2023, Yahsat continued to enhance
global access to communications,particularly focusing on underserved
communities. This year marked significant
progress in connecting remote areas,
notably through our partnerships in South
Sudan with Gate for Technologies Co.
Ltd (G4T) and in Nigeria with NigerianCommunications Satellite Limited(NIGCOMSAT). These collaborations haveextended satellite-enabled broadband toregions previously lacking reliable internet,
facilitating improvements in education,
healthcare, and governmental services.

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

responsibility and integrate into ourthinking, behaviour, culture, and corebusiness operations. Our CSR Strategy
Framework is closely aligned with our
Sustainability Framework, complementing
our corporate strategy, corporate mission,
vision, and core values. The CSR Strategy
Framework outlines our ambition to
be a pioneer in CSR in the space andsatellite communications sector, and its
implementation for the benefit of thecommunities and environment in which we
operate. Further details on the framework
are discussed in the section on Yahsat
Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy
Framework.

Connecting Communities& Community Investment Aligned with our CSR Strategy Framework,
Yahsat’s sustainability approach centres
on bolstering community connectivity,emphasizing the provision of essential
satellite infrastructure either directly
or in collaboration with partners. The
organisation is committed to gaining athorough understanding of its community
impact, utilising diverse metrics suchas service affordability, narrowing thedigital divide through internet access, andassessing indirect economic benefits andsocial returns. This ongoing evaluation
plays a crucial role in refining Yahsat’scommunity investment strategies, tacklingthe digital divide, and fostering inclusive
growth, as articulated in its Digital
Inclusion Position Statement.
In 2023, Yahsat developed a Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy
Framework to embrace corporate social

Yahsat initiated multiple projects to serve
communities and positively impact thenatural environment. Yahsat, throughits technologically advanced satellite
solutions, is creating a significant impact
in the commmunity and environment.
Examples include water resource
monitoring to prevent leakages, smart
irrigation for water conservation, air
quality monitoring to prevent carbon
emissions, weather monitoring, early
detection, warning and prevention offloods, wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes,
tsunamis saving people’s lives andprotecting biodiversity. Furthermore, ouremployees participated actively in planting
500 mangrove plants by volunteering for
165 hours to contribute to the local UAE’s
pledge to plant 100 million mangrovesby 2030 and become a global leader innature-based climate change solutions.

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

AppendicesServing Communities
In 2023, Yahsat achieved notable progressin linking remote communities withinternet connectivity and communications,solidifying its dedication to bridging thedigital divide. The main objectives forproviding internet connectivity in schools
was to support access to innovative andchild-friendly digital learning, improved
learning outcomes for school children,
increased attendance rate of school
children, advancing teachers’ digital skills
and strengthening the school learning
management system.
In Rwanda, the collaboration with the
Ministry of Education resulted in atransformative digital education initiative.
Leveraging Yahsat’s satellite internet
infrastructure via Thuraya and YahClick,the project facilitated access to updated
educational content and the latest
syllabus for children and teachers inrural areas. Aligned with the Sustainable
Development Goals, this initiative,
presented an affordable and sustainable
platform for education solutions. The
initial phase successfully connected 20
schools with internet connectivity for
eLearning.
Ghana experienced a similar
enhancement in educational accessthrough YahClick broadband services,
provided in partnership with the Ministryof Education. This initiative bridged thegap for students and staff in rural andunderserved areas, granting them accessto crucial online educational materials. A

1906
Remote schools
covered with internet
connectivity in Africa

significant milestone was reached byconnecting 636 schools and approximately
20,000 children, making a digital leap in
education.
In Zimbabwe, YahClick broadband services
played a crucial role, extending internet
connectivity to 850 rural schools. This
access to internet connectivity andcommunications is not just for education;
it serves as a lifeline, potentially saving
lives by connecting communities toessential information and resources
and improving the lives of people andcommunities.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, thedeployment of Thuraya services
revolutionised the educational landscapefor over 400 schools. This service provided
a dependable source of internet andcommunication for students and teachers,delivering technology and educational
tools to underprivileged areas. Thisinitiative stands as a testament to Yahsat’s
dedication to enhancing educational

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

41

opportunities and fostering community growth through connectivity.
Collectively, these initiatives underscore Yahsat’s unwavering commitment to utilising technology for social advancement and aligning its operations with broader global objectives to
uplift and empower communities through enhanced connectivity and access to education.

Case Study
Supporting Emirati Woman Climb Mount Everest

Investing in People“Yahsat champions diversity and inclusion by creating a vibrantworkplace with an enabling environment of empowerment andaccountability to harness the full potential of its human capital.
We engage our employees, nurture them to improve productivity,
efficiency, innovation, employee satisfaction, and foster a collective
commitment to excellence in the satellite communications realm.”

On 25th of May 2023, Yahsat proudly supported Emirati mountaineer Danah
Al Ali’s historic climb, making her the first Emirati woman to summit Everestand Lhotse in one day as part of the ‘Peak to Peak’ challenge.

Material Issues Covered

•
•
•
•

egalitarian, and rewarding, while maintaining
appropriate levels of diversity and simultaneously
promoting Emiratisation, Yahsat strives to attract
and retain highly talented employees.

Employee Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion
Health & Safety
Human Rights
Talent Attraction, Retention & Development

UAE National Space Strategy • Creating space culture and expertise
2030

Facing communication challenges in the Himalayas, Yahsat provided
crucial support by equipping Danah with satellite equipment, including
the Thuraya XT-PRO satellite phone and Thuraya IP+ broadband terminal,
ensuring seamless connectivity with complimentary airtime and data.
In an added safety measure, Thuraya’s technology partner, FrontM, enabled
live tracking for Danah on Thuraya’s SatTrack platform, allowing real-timemonitoring of her ascent and descent. Yahsat supported Danah for thishistoric achievement, serving as an inspiration to those pursuing dreams
through exploration. Throughout the groundbreaking expedition, Yahsat
maintained Danah’s connectivity via Thuraya’s mobility solutions, ensuringsafety and security in high altitudes beyond terrestrial network reach.
Yahsat remains committed to offering ubiquitous voice and broadband
coverage over the Himalayas through its mobility arm, Thuraya. This
community investment underpins Yahsat’s commitment to connecting
communities and empowering individuals and is aligned to ‘Serving
Customer and Communities’ pillar of Sustainability Framework.

We are committed to empowering our people
by providing each employee with the necessary
resources to be successful. By committing to thedevelopment of a work environment that is safe,

Abu Dhabi Economic Vision
2030• Drive significant improvement in the efficiency of the labour
market• Develop a highly skilled, highly productive workforce

Sustainable
Development Goals• Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect theUnited Nations Global
protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
Compact Principles – Human• Principle 2: Make sure that they are not complicit in human
Rights and Labour
rights abuses.
• Principle 4: The elimination of all forms of forced andcompulsory labour.

Muna Salem Musabbah Almheiri

Chief Human Capital & Administration Officer, Yahsat• Principle 5: The effective abolition of child labour.
• Principle 6: The elimination of discrimination in respect of
employment and occupation.

Furthermore, Yahsat supported local communities by engaging and empowering local youth. In 2023, Yahsat employed 13 interns across 11 departments to provide technical training.
Yahsat also provided Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) training at the Abu Dhabi University and continued its support to the Yahsat Youth Council. The Council is a uniqueprogramme unlocking exciting opportunities for young UAE nationals to gain valuable leadership lessons and make game-changing contributions, while actively driving the national
narrative on innovation and technology.

42

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

43

About this Report

Employment
The Human Capital (HC) department at
Yahsat has established a robust HC Policythat operates in compliance with the UAE
Labour Law and the Abu Dhabi Pension
Fund. This policy upholds the highest

standards of corporate governance. It
delineates Yahsat’s strategy for identifying,recruiting, and hiring individuals who
possess the requisite skills, qualifications,and attributes to meet the Company’s

Human Capital Policy and Employee Benefits
Yahsat’s HC Policy clearly sets out theCompany values, vision statement, mission
statement and basic policy on how
employees should expect to be treated and
how Yahsat supports its most importantresource – its people.
Every employee at our Company enjoys
a variety of benefits, tailored according
to their role, gender, and nationality. In
2023, we enhanced our employee benefits

package, including maintaining remote
working days to five per month, uncertified
sick leave to five days annually, andoffering extra leave for employees working
weekends or public holidays without
overtime pay. Additionally, we continue toprovide medical escort leave of 10 daysin country, and up to 2 months (withina calendar year) for overseas medical
treatment. Detailed adjacent is a summaryof key benefits our employees enjoy:

business goals. Furthermore, thisprocess aligns with Yahsat’s manpower
requirements for addressing vacant
positions. By ensuring transparency in our
hiring processes, employee performance

evaluations, and employee relations, we
contribute to a trustworthy and ethicalcorporate environment.

Major Employee Benefits include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

UAE National AllowanceChild Allowance
Shift Allowance
Mission AllowanceChildren’s Educational AssistanceChildren’s Educational Assistance – Children of Determination
Health Insurance
End of Service Benefits
Loans and Advances

Our Workforce
Securing skilled professionals andenhancing employee retention standas critical elements in driving Yahsat
towards realising its strategic goals. We arecommitted to retain a strong workforce
for long-term sustainability in our pursuit
to foster both professional and personal

growth among our employees. Yahsat
strengthened its workforce in 2023,
enhancing synergies and operational
efficiencies aligned with strategic goals.
Our workforce related information isdisclosed adjacent:

Employees
Total number of employees
Total number of full-time employees
Total number of part-time employees
Total number of contractors and/or consultants

2020 2021 2022 2023
389 477 457 421
330 416 418 402
0
0
0
0
59
61
39
19

We periodically monitor our workforce by encouraging gender diversity and promoting women in technical and senior roles. As part of our HC Policy, we regularly keep a track of
employment at different levels to ensure diversity in employment and our hiring process.

44

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Workforce by Employment Level
Full-time employees in senior management
FemaleMale
Full-time employees in middle management
FemaleMale
Full-time employee staff (other levels)
FemaleMale2020 2021 2022 2023
50
60
67
57
4
5
8
5
46
55
59
52
65
88 108 100
6
8
13
10
59
80
95
90
215 268 243 245
45
57
53
54
170
211 190 191

In 2023, despite a drop in the overall new
employee hiring, the number of new female
hires has remained consistent for the last
three years. We are regularly working

on hiring suitable candidates for the
specialised roles in the Satellite SpaceTech
sector, to ensure retaining a strong
workforce.

New Employee Hire
Total new employee hires
FemaleMale
In line with our learnings from 2022, weconsistently strive to better understandthe reasons for employees leaving ourorganisation. In 2023, we witnessed anincrease in the percentage of full-time
employees leaving the organisation ascompared to the drop between 2021 and2022. We also witnessed an increase in

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

In 2023, Yahsat’s HC department
continued its commitment to adapt to theevolving workplace landscape post-covid.
The surge in remote and hybrid work
models has prompted HC to meticulously
refine policies, nurture employee wellbeing, and harness technology for more
efficient operations. Embracing agile
practices, Yahsat HC ensures adaptability

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendicesto changing business needs, with asimultaneous emphasis on data privacy
and compliance. Efforts in employee
experience, talent acquisition, andretention persist, underlining a strategic
focus on fostering a positive workplaceculture and responding to global eventswith agility and resilience.

2020 2021 2022 2023
12
46
47
31
3
8
8
8
9
38
39
23
the number of contractors/ consultantsleaving the organisation, as compared to2021. This increase was mainly attributed
to completion of the project or contract
requirements for which consultants/
contractors/project based employees were
hired.

Employee Turnover
Number of full-time employees who left the Company
Number of consultant/contractors who left the Company

2020 2021 2022 2023
27
25
52
54
12
5
13
23

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

45

About this Report

Diversity and Inclusion, Employee Engagement
Yahsat is dedicated to fostering an inclusive,
non-discriminatory workplace, actively
opposing any form of discrimination orharassment, and encouraging diversity,
particularly women’s inclusion and Emirati
employee support. Committed to employee
satisfaction, Yahsat engages with staff
to understand and address their needs,
employing initiatives like engagement
action plans, satisfaction targets, better
communication, diversity training, flexible
work arrangements, and digital processoptimisation to cultivate a positive, efficient
work environment.

We encourage diversity in various roles
including the Board as well as various
employment levels within the organisation.
We also monitor the Board diversity basedon age-group. In 2023, 56 percent of theBoard of Directors were in the age groupof 30-50 years, and 44 percent were over
50 years age group category.
Our workforce gender diversity for thelast four years has remained consistentfor males and females in terms of overall
percentage in the total workforce within
the organisation.

Employees

2020 2021 2022 2023

Total number of full-time employees

330

416

418

402

Female employees (%)

17%

17%

18%

17%

Male employees (%)

83%

83%

82%

83%

Emiratisation 1
UAE nationals among full-time workforce (%)
UAE nationals in full-time workforce
Female national full-time employees
Male national full-time employee
We demonstrated our commitment toencourage women in technical roles andhighlighted the accomplishment during
the celebration of Emirati Women’s Day.
This event honoured the achievements

coaching, mentoring, upskilling, andreskilling. Upon successful completion of
the two-year programme, the participant
is hired directly by Yahsat into a fulltime position. In 2023, Yahsat employed
13 interns across 11 departments, andalso continued its support to the Yahsat
Youth Council, a unique programme
unlocking exciting opportunities foryoung UAE nationals. From the table, it
can be established that the percentage
of Emiratisation has remained consistentat 52 percent for the last four years, thus
showcasing Yahsat’s contribution to the
MHRE national initiative.
2020
51.5%
170
43
127

2021
52.1%
175
43
132

Emiratisation is estimated based on the full-time direct employees at Yahsat and Thuraya as per the methodology provided by Mubadala Investment Company

46

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

2022
52.5%
175
43
132

2023
51.9%
165
41
123

of distinguished female engineers andunderscored Yahsat’s dedication toenhancing female representation in bothtechnical and leadership capacities.

52% UAE nationals among full-time direct employees within Yahsat

1

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Recognition – GCC Gov HR Awards
2023 – Women Empowerment

Nationalisation
Yahsat aims to support the UAE Ministryof Human Resources and Emiratisation(MHRE) to contribute towards the UAE’s
workforce development ambitions.
Through the ‘Training for Work’ initiative
overseen by Mubadala Investment
Company (Yahsat’s main shareholder),UAE nationals can join Yahsat on an
on-the-job training programme. The
programme aims to employ 600 UAE
nationals across the Mubadala Investment
Company and its group of companies.
Each participant is given responsibilities
for two years and fully supported in theircareer development through assessments,

About Yahsat

The GCC GOV HR and Youth Awards is a prestigious
platform that recognises and celebrates outstandingachievements in governance, human resources,
innovation, and youth empowerment.
Yahsat’s Human Capital department was awarded theprestigious accolade for Women Empowerment at the
GCC GOV HR Awards 2023. Yahsat was selected fromamong a stellar line-up of government, public and private
sector entities across the GCC, and was honoured for its
exceptional championship in creating a diverse working
environment at every level. The award acknowledges theempowering initiatives and innovative actions taken by
Yahsat to promote gender equality.
Yahsat has notably maintained consistency in its female
hires as well as the percentage of female employees in fulltime workforce for the last three years, and demonstrated
its commitment to encourage women in technical andleadership roles.

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Employee Satisfaction and Trainings
Through comprehensive training
programmes, talent development
initiatives, and fostering a culture ofcontinuous learning, we empower
our employees to reach their fullpotential. This investment not only
benefits the individuals but also
strengthens Yahsat as a whole. We
conduct annual employee surveys
to gauge employee engagement
on various HC related parameters.
In 2023, 98 percent of employees

participated in the survey and theoverall employee satisfaction scoreremained steady at 82, exceeding theregional average of 79 and aligningwith the top-in-class benchmark.
Our employee Net Promoter
Score (NPS) of 40 was achievedfor 2023. During this survey cycle,
over 100 managerial reports weregenerated, providing crucial insights
to managers and teams regarding
team engagement and challenges.

Strengthened parental leave policies tosupport employees and their families.
Increased paternity leave days from 5 to
10 working days
Introduced two working schedules withflexible timings.
Launched a travel and mental healthsupport line.
Initiated ‘Open Circle’, a monthly
corporate townhall that encourages open
communication with management.
In 2023, Yahsat also focusedsignificantly on capacity buildingof its workforce. We conducted 12
in-house training sessions coveringvarious technical and soft skills,
including Leadership, Internet ofThings (IoT), Project Management
Professional (PMP) Certification,

Several managers will be enrolled
in a customised Executive Coaching
Programme designed to support
them in facilitating constructive
discussions and the outcomes will
be utilised to implement actionablemeasures geared towards further
improving engagement. In 2023,
Yahsat implemented a series of
initiatives to boost employee
engagement, including:

Employee Satisfaction Score
83
82

82

82

82

2021

2022

2023

81
80
79

80

2020

Microsoft Excel, and Artificial
Intelligence. Additionally, theCompany facilitated the participationof 13 employees in 10 distinct
technical courses. We sponsored
6 professional certifications
for our employees. Moreover,
two employees who received

sponsorships for higher education
completed their studies and returned
as invaluable assets to Yahsat. The
average training hours received byfemale and male full-time employees
in 2023 was 8.56 hours and 7.15
hours, respectively.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

47

About this Report

Average Training Hours
Female workforce (average hours)
Male workforce (average hours)
Some of the specific trainings which wereconducted in coordination with the Ethics andCompliance function, as mandatory for either

2020
11.2
10.3

2021
8.2
9.5

2022
33.3
22

2023
8.56
7.15

all or specific employees, were instrumental in
informing the employees about various policies incorporate governance.
Number of
Employees
Attended
2022
2023
445
4172
445
417
445
417
122
417
417
417
62
76

Training Areas
Anti-Bribery and Corruption
Yahsat Ethics and Compliance and Code of Ethics
Information Security Awareness/Data Privacy
Health Safey and Environment (HSE) Awareness
ESG AwarenessExport Control AwarenessExport Control Specific Training

Employee Performance Review andCareer Development
Yahsat’s Human Capital (HC) department ensured
inclusive participation in performance reviews and careerdevelopment programmes, which are pivotal for identifying
and addressing developmental needs, leading to wellstructured training schedules. For the last four years, all
our full-time employees across various levels underwent
performance evaluations and the percentage remains
consistent at 100 percent.

100%
Full-time workforce
received regularperformance andcareer development
review.

Compensation and Parental Leave
As per the HC Policy, we maintain an equal pay
policy for the role, which is independent of the2gender and based more on merit, at the sametime we also provide parental leave benefits

417 employees included full-time employees and contractors/consultants.

48

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

to our employees. By the endof 2023, the annual mediancompensation for males andfemales was USD 137,774 and USD
114,364, respectively. Employeecompensation consists of an
employee’s basic salary and all
variable allowances excluding childeducation support and annual
bonuses. Paid parental leave ismade available to employees
following the birth of a child or
the placement of an adopted or
foster child with an employee. All
female employees are entitled to
90 paid days of maternity leave
and all male employees to ten
days’ paternity leave. In 2023, 24
employees took parental leave
which included 5 females and21 males, and all 24 employees
returned to work after completionof their parental leave period.
Incentives and remunerations arealigned with Yahsat’s strategic
objectives and shareholder
expectations. Executive
Management is incentivised
based on the annual performanceagainst the targets establishedand agreed with the Board as partof Yahsat’s corporate scorecard.
These KPIs can be categorised
in one of four areas and include
financial, growth, people, andsustainability. Yahsat consistently
discloses the ratio of its CEO’s
total compensation to the median
total compensation of full-time
employees, maintaining a steady100%
Employees returned
to work after
completion ofparental leave period
ratio of 5:1. Additionally, the ratioof annual median compensation
between male and female
employees has remained constantat 1.2:1.

Grievance
Employee grievances can be reported and investigated throughour Ethics and Compliance function. In 2023, there were no
instance of grievances concerning discrimination reported, and it
continues to be a trend for the last four years

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Health & Safety
Yahsat upholds high health, safety,
and wellbeing standards, minimising
work hazards and nurturing a secureenvironment. With a dedicated Health,
Safety and Environment (HSE) Committee,
policies, and procedures, the Company isdevoted to advancing its HSE practices.
Initiatives include HSE training, stressmanagement programmes, ergonomic
workplace policies, and enhanced HSE
metrics, aligning with global best practices
to achieve superior health and safety
standards.
Maintaining a safe and healthy
workplace that upholds human rights
is a key priority for Yahsat. Our robust
Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE)Management System Framework is

Health and Safety Performance
Total employee man-hours worked
Total contractor man-hours worked
Employee fatalities
Contractor fatalities
Employee total recordable injuries
Contractor total recordable injuries
Employee lost-time injuries
Contractor lost-time injuries
We have established various forums
for management, staff, and workers to

based on five components that include
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
culture, personnel management, OHS
risk management system, Occupational
Health and Safety Management System(OHSMS), and governance. Yahsat
achieved ‘ISO 45001:2018 - Occupational
health and safety management systems
Requirements with guidance and use’ for
its Headquarter in Abu Dhabi, Thuraya
Towers in Dubai, and Primary Gatewayin Sharjah, and our HSE department has
committed to maintain best practices in
OHS by encouraging periodic audits for
ISO 45001:2018. Yahsat’s HSE Management
System Manual has an updated HSE Policy
which is overseen by the Chief Operations
Officer (COO). To achieve our health and2020
1,182,412
199,204
0
0
1
0
0
0

2021
1,375,965
235,479
0
0
2
0
0
0

2022
515,119*405,566*
0
0
0
0
0
0

2023
472,804*
443,361*
0
0
0
0
0
0

interact and address all the necessary
concerns raised. A management review

Specific Training Areas
Advanced Fire Fighting
Advanced First Aid
PA VA System and Fireman
Phone
Emergency Evacuation Chair

Appendices100%

safety objectives, Yahsat encourages
implementing and maintaining a riskbased management system, integrating aculture of training to ensure compliancewith legal and technical requirements byemployees and contractors. It reinforces
the need to engage regularly with all
our stakeholders to understand theirrequirements, performing periodic
performance reviews of Yahsat and our
stakeholders, and promoting integrityby shaping the culture of aligning tobest health and safety practices. As per
the OHS practices and ISO 45001:2018
implementation and management review,
we also track and monitor any situation ofwork-related injuries. In 2023, some of our
key achievements included:
meeting for ISO 45001:2018 happens
once a year, HSE committee meetings
are conducted two times a year, HSE
performance KPI (strategy KPI updates) areconducted monthly, and ad-hoc meetings/
urgent meetings are conducted as andwhen required. In 2023, the HSE function

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Employees including
full-time employees
and contractors arecovered as part of
the Yahsat OHSMSFATALITIES

0RECORDABLEINJURIES

LOST TIME
INCIDENTS

conducted and facilitated extensive
training for Yahsat employees, contractors
and workers, demonstrating a firm
commitment to maintaining a secure work
environment at Yahsat. Below is a summaryof the training sessions provided:

No. of Employees Attended
5
8

Training Hours
60
96

8

32

11

33

Note: *Includes estimates based on average monthly man-hours recorded

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

49

Specific Training Areas
ISO 45001:2018 Internal
AuditorSituational Awareness andSurveillance Training
Safety In Heat
Fire Warden Responsibilities
Emergency Preparedness
Safety and Security Induction
Travel Safe – AwarenessSessionMental Health – AwarenessSessionTotal Training Hours

No. of Employees Attended

Training Hours

4

64

20

60

13
7
14
119

13
7
14
119

155

155

180

180

In total, 833 hours of health and safety
trainings were conducted. Completion of
all the training sessions resulted in safe
operations within Yahsat with no incident

833
of injuries, ill-health or fatalities recorded
in 2023 among the employees, workers,
and contractors working for Yahsat.

Security Practices
Yahsat has Standard Operating Procedures
for Site Security which provides guidance
for managing all the security related
aspects within Yahsat. To ensure that
Yahsat facilities are secured and to prevent
any unauthorised access into the Yahsat
facility, a security threat assessment of
the site is performed with the help of the
HSE function. Security threat assessment
checks for all high risk areas and security
control measures and plans are in place.

50

As a standard practice, we also provide all
the essential trainings to our security staff
which includes operational training aswell as training and awareness on Yahsat
policies such as Code of Ethics and humanrights related aspects. In 2023, 100 percent
percent of our security personnel received
trainings on Code of Ethics and humanrights aspects

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Security Personnel Training
2020
Total number of security personnel
27
Total number of security personnel who received formal
training on organisation policies including Code of27
Ethics and human rights
Security personnel who received formal training (%)
100%

2021
27

2022
30

2023
30

27

30

30

100%

100%

100%

Human Rights
Yahsat adheres to its Code of Ethics,
upholding international and local humanrights standards in its operations andemployment practices. This commitment
extends to ensuring labour rights,
preventing child and forced labour, andpromoting workplace safety. Yahsat
mandates its business partners to follow
these principles, fostering a culture of
ethical conduct and rights compliance,with mechanisms for reporting violations.
The Company actively engages with andassesses its partners, emphasising theimportance of human rights performance,
ethical practices, and adherence to its
Business Partner Code of Conduct.
Our Code of Ethics mandates that Yahsat
abides by all international and national
human rights declarations and principles
related to employment practices, fairtreatment, child labour, forced labour,and health and safety in the workplace.
As mentioned earlier, we are a signatory
to the United Nations Global Compact(UNGC), and we ensure our commitment
to the ten principles of the UNGC including

human rights related measures in ouroperations and supply chain. All ourbusiness partners, including suppliers,
are required to abide by the same humanrights declarations and principles includingchild and forced labour, as stated in
our Business Partner Code of Conduct.
We strongly encourage our suppliers
to monitor, address, and disclose theirperformance regarding human rightsrelated issues, as well as to learn andshare best practices to appropriately
manage these issues. We also performrisk-based screening of our suppliers
and business partners to monitor theirsocial performance before making any
contractual agreement with them. In 2023,
no grievances associated with humanrights related issues were reported to the
Ethics and Compliance function. We havea reporting platform and mechanism inplace to report any violation on the Codeof Ethics using our ethics and compliancehelpline. For further information ongrievance support, please refer to Business
Ethics and Competitive Behaviour.

Promoting
Environmental
Protection“Yahsat is committed to protect the environment through its
SpaceTech climate solutions and is working tirelessly to reduce
consumption of natural resources, conserve energy and reduce andrecycle waste. We are also continuously strengthening the use ofsatellite communications and connectivity to protect marine and landbiodiversity and mitigate the impact of climate change.”

Our unwavering commitment is to lead the way
in advocating for the responsible utilisation of
space and safeguarding our environment. We
are dedicated to providing ongoing support

Material Issues Covered

•
•
•
•
•
•

to our customers, enabling them to manage
their environmental footprint effectively withthe assistance of our state-of-the-art satellite
solutions.

Biodiversity
Carbon Emissions & Climate Strategy
Energy Management
Environmental Management
Product, Innovation & Lifecycle Management
Sustainable Use of Space

UAE National Space Strategy • Effective local and international partnerships andinvestments in the space industry
2030
Abu Dhabi Economic Vision
2030• Develop a sufficient and resilient infrastructure capable ofsupporting the anticipated economic growth

Sustainable
Development Goals

United Nations Global
Compact Principles –Environment
Khalid Abdalla Omar Al Kaf
Chief Operations Officer, Yahsat• Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary
approach to environmental challenges.

• Principle 8: Undertake initiatives to promote greater
environmental responsibility.

• Principle 9: Encourage the development and diffusion ofenvironmentally friendly technologies.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

51

About this Report

Environmental Management
Yahsat’s group-wide HSE Management
System Manual encapsulates
environmental management systemaspects which are under the controlof Yahsat, and it is applicable to all
employees, contractors and others whoare engaged to carry out work for Yahsat.
Yahsat’s ESG Policy also complements

In 2023, we conducted a comprehensive
review of all the waste generated fromour operations which was categorised
under Hazardous Waste (which includes
batteries), Non-Hazardous Waste (which
includes general waste, carton, agriculture,wood, and mixed scrap) and Electronic
Waste (which includes telecom andother electronic equipment). It can beestablished from the graph that mostof the waste generated was in the NonHazardous Waste stream.
We worked extensively with our Waste

Waste Composition in Yahsat - 2023

its HSE Management System Manualand reinforces its commitment to theenvironment by focusing on areas such as
optimising natural resource consumption,
promoting reuse of materials, decreasingenergy consumption, increasing recycling
rates, and reducing the generation ofwaste and wastewater. The Company

Service Providers across our Yahsat HQ,Thuraya Telecommunications Dubai Office,and Thuraya Primary Gateway on waste
collection and reporting of the waste
treatment process undertaken for thewaste collected. The Facilities Management
function works with Waste Service
Providers to enable us to calculate theoverall waste generated, waste recycled,
and waste sent to disposal from all ourfacilities in UAE and operations. In 2023, 45
percent of the total waste generated fromour operations was diverted away fromlandfill.

Waste Management
Total Waste Generated (tonnes)
Total Waste Recycled (tonnes)3 (includes
electronic waste)
Total Waste Sent to Disposal (tonnes)
Waste Diverted from Disposal (%)
Electronic Waste Recycled (tonnes)

2020
72.70

2021
5.13

2022
111.642023
205.20

-

-

-

92.25

10.60

4.03

33.87

112.9645%
35.00

Waste recycled (tonnes) – Also includes electronic waste recycled. For the previous years, the data was only available forelectronic waste recycling but not for other waste streams, that is Hazardous Waste and Non-Hazardous Waste, hence the total
waste recycled data for 2020, 2021 and 2022 is not provided.

3

52

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

proactively manages its environmental
planning and resource usage andconducts regular assessments of its
annual environmental performance. The
environmental sustainability performanceof Yahsat is also communicated to theBoard through the ESG function.

17%

15%

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Water and Effluents
Total Water Withdrawal (megalitres)
Total Water Consumption (megalitres)
Total Water Reclaimed (megalitres)
Total Wastewater Generated (megalitres)

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

2020
92.96
89.88
0
3.08

2022
107.21104.040
3.17

2021
106.47103.300
3.17

2023
110.53107.440
3.09

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

AppendicesElectricity Consumption in Yahsat HQ- 2022 Baseline
6%

3%

1%

38%

52%

68%
Hazardous Waste
Electronic Waste

Non-Hazardous Waste

Some of the significant waste types that were recycled include mixed scrap,
electronic waste, steel items, cartons, and batteries. Electronic waste and battery
waste accounted for more than 70 percent of the waste recycled in 2023. Facilities
Management, through its waste service providers, were able to recycle 100 percent of
the electronic waste generated in 2023. Furthermore, the electronic waste recycling
witnessed a 3.34 percent increase between 2022 and 2023.
To address wastewater from ouroperations, we installed a sewage
treatment plant at our Headquarter in
Abu Dhabi. This installation is projected
to conserve around 4 megalitres ofwater annually, along with an estimatedannual operational cost saving of AED
114,920. Additionally, the initiative is
expected to eliminate 13,250 kilometresof tanker transportation annually,
consequently preventing approximately
173 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year
related to sewerage transport. In 2023,
the volume of wastewater generated
from our operations reduced by 3
percent as compared to 2022. We expect
to recycle and reclaim wastewater fromour operations with the help of a sewage
treatment plant for future years.

About Yahsat

Energy Management
Yahsat is aligned with the requirements of ‘ISO 50001:2018 Energy management systems
requirements with guidance for use’. In 2023, Yahsat conducted an American Society ofHeating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level II energy audit to:Understand the energy consumption pattern in the Yahsat Headquarter(HQ) building for the 2022 baseline year.
Identify improvement opportunities for the major energy hotspots.

Waste Type Recycled - 2023
2%

3%

38%

34%
23%

Steel Items
Mixed Scrap
Battery

Data centres and antenna loads
Appliance and equipment
Yahsat has a robust Building
Management System (BMS) in place formonitoring, regulating, and optimising
the energy usage within the building.
The BMS is used for monitoring andcontrolling of Chillers, Chilled Water
Pumps (CHWPs), Air Handling Units(AHU) package units, Close Control
units (CCUs), Heating Ventilation and

HVAC
OthersLighting

Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment andother assets. Energy related complianceis reviewed and monitored as part of
the Yahsat Annual Internal Audits. In
2023, Yahsat undertook key projects andinitiatives to manage its energy use andcontribute to the energy audit findings
as shown overleaf:

Assess feasible energy efficiency measures and identify options for
reduction in energy consumption and operational expenses.

The energy audit helped Yahsat to establish its energy baseline and action plans to meetthe energy management related actions. From the graph, it was established that ‘Data
Centres and Antenna Loads’ and HVAC constituted 90 percent of the overall Yahsat HQelectricity consumption in the year 2022. Eight Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) wereidentified and proposed as part of a comprehensive energy audit covering lighting,cooling, clean energy, energy optimisation and technology upgrades.

Carton Waste
Electronic Waste

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

53

About this Report

Installed 22 electric vehicle charging stations across Yahsat’s
assets aimed at reducing the emissions in the employee
commute category within the scope 3 emissions.
Converted all external/outdoor lighting to energy efficient LEDs
aiming to reduce energy usage.
In 2023, the Yashat IT team supported various ESG related
projects such as IT equipment reuse and recycling, idle
workstation shutdown, paperless working environment, ande-business cards. We have reduced 16 percent on the total paper
printouts in 2023 by encouraging initiatives like DocuSign andessential printouts only. In the Africa data centre, we optimisedand decommissioned all the unused equipment thereby
reducing energy consumption by almost 86.51 percent in 2023 ascompared to 2022. Similarly, in European Gateways, we were able
to reduce the energy consumption by 5.32 percent by powering
down all equipment that was not in production.
Yahsat also conducted a detailed study for the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and havemade an action plan based on gaps identified. Yahsat’s Facilities
Management function plans to undertake some important
projects in 2024 to contribute to energy management, suchas LED retrofitting for internal areas within buildings, HVAC
enhancement projects, and installation of smart energy meters
for effective energy management and control.
Paper Savings (Thousands)
Black andWhite Printouts

90

167

54

2023
2022

256
100

Energy Consumption4
Direct Energy Consumption (GJ)
Petrol Consumption from Vehicles (litres)5
Diesel Consumption from Operations(back-up power) (litres)6
Indirect Energy Consumption (GJ)Electricity Consumption (kWh)Energy Consumption Intensity (GJ/
Employee)

196

Total Printouts
50

Yahsat’s Facilities Management function iscontinuously monitoring its direct and indirectenergy use with the help of establishedenergy management practices. Direct energy
use for Yahsat consists of petrol and diesel
fuel consumption. Petrol is being used in thevehicles operated by Yahsat for daily use,
whereas diesel is used in the operations forproviding continuous back-up power in thefacilities. Restatement is provided for theusage of petrol and diesel within Yahsat, as in
the previous reporting it was mentioned that
petrol and diesel were used in both vehicles
and operations. With the improvements in thedata collection process, defining appropriate
boundaries, and consolidating the disclosuresrequirements, these corrections were madefor the direct energy use. Indirect energy use
in Yahsat consists of electricity consumption
for its facilities in the UAE. The increase inenergy consumption between 2022 and 2023

111

Colour Printouts

0

Energy Performance

150

200

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

250

307

300

is attributed to an increase in the electricity
consumption in Yahsat’s facilities.

74,47674,00073,00073,177
72,58872,00071,00070,00070,678
2020

2021

2022

2023

2020
679
2,255
15,764

2021
679
2,255
15,764

2022
679
2,255
15,764

2023
679
2,255
15,76472,49820,138,381
222

73,797
20,488,425
179

69,99919,444,134
169

71,90919,974,661
181

4Energy Consumption is reported only for the UAE Operations covering Yahsat HQ in Abu Dhabi and Thuraya Primary Gateway.

5

Restatement is provided for the application of petrol consumption in Yahsat.

6

Restatement is provided for the application of diesel consumption in Yahsat.

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Carbon Emissions and Climate Strategy
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Yahsat supports the UAE’s commitment to Net
Zero by 2050, and thus remains thoughtful
about its climate related actions. In 2023, Yahsat
performed a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas(GHG) accounting exercise as per the GHG
Protocol, with 2022 as the baseline year.

Total Energy Consumption(Direct + Indirect) for Yahsat in GJ
75,000

About Yahsat

and Human Capital and Administration
Department.
The comprehensive GHG Accounting performed
for the Yahsat HQ facility considered all relevant
emission sources as applicable. Restatement
is provided for the defined boundary, recalculation, and disclosure of 2022 GHG
emissions, along with the necessary corrections
made. Scope 1 emissions for 2022 are recalculated based on the increase in the numberof emission sources, scope 2 emissions for theperiods 2020, 2021 and 2022 are re-assessed

Yahsat developed a comprehensive methodology
and Inventory Management Plan for conducting
the GHG accounting in a consistent manner for
current and future years. Yahsat also followed
all five Principles and function of a GHG
inventory from the GHG Protocol on Relevance,
Completeness, Consistency, Transparency
GHG Emissions (tCO2e) - 2022 and 2023
and Accuracy. The boundary defined for theassessment included Yahsat HQ in Abu Dhabi
2023
2022
covering scope 1 and scope 2, and for scope 3
we considered Purchased Goods and Services,Scope
23,718.64
Capital Goods, Waste Generated, Business
28,004.54
3
Travel, Employee Commute, Upstream Leased
Assets, Downstream Leased Assets, and Water
4,528.32
Consumption categories. Data Champions are Scope
4,275.60
2allocated across Yahsat to help provide thequality data required for GHG calculations.
Scope 231.43
Some of the major data owners include
248.21
1
the Facilities Management Department,
Procurement Department, Finance Department,
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Developing Business
Partnershipsbase on UAE-specific emission factors.
Restatement is also provided for
the GHG emission intensity for 2022
based on the revised boundary andcalculation methodology. For thereporting period 2020 and 2021, due
to unavailable scope 1 data for Yahsat
HQ, GHG emission intensity could not
be calculated, hence not reported.
By comparing the results of 2022 and2023, it can be observed that scope
1 and scope 2 emissions together
were less than 20% of the total
Carbon Emissions 7*
Scope 1 GHG Emissions(tonnes CO2 eq.)**Scope 2 GHG Emissions(tonnes CO2 eq.)***
Scope 3 GHG Emissions(tonnes CO2 eq.)****
Total GHG Emissions (tonnes
CO2 eq.)GHG Emissions Intensity(Scope 1+ Scope 2 tCO2 eq./
employee)*****
Total amount invested,annually, in climate-related
infrastructure, resilience, andproduct development (million
AED)

Appendicesemissions for both years, and scope 3
accounted for more than 80 percent
of total emissions in 2022 and 2023.
Overall GHG emissions decreased by
12 percent in 2023 as compared to2022, which was mainly attributed to
the reduction in scope 3 emissions
from category 2 - Capital Goods. In
2023, Yahsat worked extensively on
improving the data collection process
and quality of data for performing the
GHG calculations.

2020
48

2021
48

2022
248.212023
231.43

7,048.43

7,170.95

4,275.6

4,528.32--

28,004.54 23,718.64

7,096.43

7,218.95

32,528.35 28,478.39

-

-

14.23

14.38

-

-

0.059

1.03

7
* Detailed GHG baseline assessment was performed for Yahsat Headquarter for the reporting period 2022 covering all the scopes and categories applicable to Yahsat as per GHG Protocol. GHG inventory and accounting is performed by collecting the actual
inventory data, where possible, and estimated in case actual data is not available.
**Scope 1 emissions – the data reported for 2022 has been revised in the current reporting as additional emission sources were included for the 2022 baseline. The data for 2020 and 2021 were not available for the project boundary, hence the numbers were notchanged.
***Scope 2 emissions – the purchased electricity data was back casted with UAE specific emission factors, and hence, a significant drop in the emissions for 2020, 2021 and 2022 is adjusted and corrected accordingly for the reported scope 2 emissions for 2020, 2021
and 2022 as disclosed in the Sustainability Report 2022.
**** Scope 3 – Yahsat has identified the emissions from 6 categories of Scope 3.
*****GHG emissions intensity is corrected for 2022, and due to unavailability of data for 2020 and 2021 the GHG emissions intensity is not calculated.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

55

About this Report

In 2023, Yahsat undertook a comprehensive
study to develop a decarbonisation
pathway for Yahsat HQ with a focus on
reducing emissions across scope 1, scope2, and scope 3 in the near term, medium
term and long-term as per the UAE

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governancepathway, Science Based Targets Initiative(SBTi) pathway and recommended
pathway. The study proposed several
measures targeting key emission sources
to align with near term, medium term, andlong-term decarbonisation pathways.

Area
Recommended Disclosure
Risk Management Describe the organisation’s processes
for identifying and assessing climaterelated risks.

in the long-term, in accordance with the
Task Force on Climate-related Financial
Disclosures (TCFD) requirements. The keyalignments as per the TCFD are provided
below:

Describe the organisation’s processes
for managing climate-related risks.

Climate Strategy
Yahsat is focussing on both mitigation as
well as adaptation measures to support
its pledge for the UAE to reach Net Zeroby 2050. Yahsat recently performed anassessment of potential climate risks andopportunities which may impact Yahsat
Area
Governance

Strategy

56

Recommended Disclosure
Describe the Board’s oversight of climaterelated risks and opportunities.

Current Status
Yahsat published an ESG Policy which outlines Board responsibility for overseeing Yahsat’s approach to ESG
and Sustainability. It is aligned with the Yahsat Sustainability Framework, where Carbon Emissions and Climate
Strategy is identified as a material topic. The policy also outlines the approach to ESG related training andcapacity building, and compensation linked to ESG KPIs.
Describe management’s role in assessing
The ESG Policy outlines that the Audit, Risk, and Compliance Committee (ARCC) Board Committee shall regularly
and managing climate-related risks andreview ESG risks (including climate change) and approve the associated mitigation measures.
opportunities.
The ESG Policy also outlines that the Executive Management team shall ensure that Yahsat’s approved
Sustainability Framework and policies are effectively implemented. The Executive Management team shallprovide periodic updates to the Board of Directors on the progress of Yahsat’s approved Sustainability
Framework and key ESG risks.
Describe the climate-related risks andIn 2023, as part of the detailed materiality assessment exercise, Carbon Emissions and Climate Change
opportunities the organisation has identified (alongside transition and physical risks) have been identified as a ‘Very Important’ material topic. Yahsat hasover the short, medium, and long-term.
a dedicated Business Continuity function and a Risk Management and Internal Control function (RMIC) that
performs Threat Risk Assessments (TRA), including identifying risks from nature.
Describe the impact of climate related risks Yahsat has identified Carbon Emissions and Climate Change as a material topic and it has developed aand opportunities on the organisation’s
decarbonisation roadmap for its Headquarter (HQ), which would help Yahsat to implement its climate change
businesses, strategy, and financial planning. roadmap for its HQ.
Describe the resilience of the organisation’s Yahsat periodically reviews its environmental performance by covering the aspects of energy management,
strategy, taking into consideration different waste management and water management. Yahsat is also focusing on nature based solutions to ensure
climate-related scenarios, including a 2°C or organisational resilience inline with best practices. Additionally, in 2023, Yahsat performed a detailed GHG
Accounting assessment for its HQ building, and it plans to extend the scope to its overall operations in the UAE.
lower scenario.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Metrics andTargets

Describe how processes for
identifying, assessing, and managing
climate-related risks are integrated
into the organisation’s overall risk
management.
Disclose the metrics used by theorganisation to assess climate relatedrisks and opportunities in line with its
strategy and risk management process.

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Current Status• Yahsat has identified various opportunities within its capabilities that arise from the transition, such as
remote sensing and the Internet of Things (IOT). An assessment is also performed on the ability to capitaliseon the opportunities identified. Additionally, the process of identifying climate risk and opportunities is also
proportionate to the materiality of the issues/opportunities identified within Yahsat.
• Yahsat has a dedicated Business Continuity function and a Risk Management and Internal Control function(RMIC) that performs Threat Risk Assessments (TRA), including identifying risks from nature. Additionally,‘Sustainability Challenges’ is added as a principal risk to our strategic pillars which include climate/environment
related risks.
• Yahsat has considered the management of some climate risks as part of its wider business risk management
process. For example, physical risk is considered in the decision-making process to invest in new facilities.
• Yahsat has a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) and performs DRP drills periodically.
• ‘Sustainability Challenges’ is added as a principal risk to our strategic pillars which include climate/environment
related risks. Additionally, Yahsat has considered the management of some climate risks as part of its wider
business risk management process. For example, physical risk is considered in the decision-making process toinvest in new facilities.

Yahsat has identified Carbon Emissions and Climate Change, Energy Management and Environment Management
as key environmental material topics. Yahsat regularly monitors and discloses its energy consumption, waste
management, water and effluents, and GHG emissions as the primary metrices. Yahsat has also developed adecarbonisation roadmap for its Headquarter (HQ), which would help Yahsat to implement its climate change
roadmap for its HQ.
Disclose Scope 1, Scope 2, and, if• Yahsat has performed a detailed GHG Accounting for its HQ building covering scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3 forappropriate, Scope 3 Greenhouse gas
the baseline year 2022. Similar boundary and disclosures are also reported for the year 2023 in the Sustainability(GHG) emissions, and the related risks.
Report 2023.
• The data used in the calculation of scope 1 and 2 is collected by the ESG function in coordination with the
Facilities Management Department, Procurement Department, Finance Department, and Human Capital and
Administration Department.
• Yahsat has a comprehensive Inventory Management Plan that acts as guidance for data collection, emission
calculation, and review of the GHG Accounting on an annual basis.
• Yahsat has integrated physical climate related risks into its wider business risk management and we are closely
monitoring transition risks such as carbon pricing (which are currently not applicable) and compliance withclimate related regulations and disclosure requirements.
Describe the targets used by the• Yahsat have signed the UAE Climate Responsible Companies Pledge, outlining their commitment to achieve net
organisation to manage climatezero GHGs by 2050 in line with the UAE’s 2050 Strategic Initiative.
related risks and opportunities and• Yahsat recently developed a decarbonisation roadmap for its Headquarter (HQ), which would help Yahsat towork on its interim decarbonisation targets in the near (2025-2030), medium (2030-2035), and long-term (2035 –performance against targets.
2050), as per the UAE pathway or Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) pathways.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

57

About this Report

Product, Innovation and Life Cycle Management
even under the most challenging
space conditions. Adhering strictly to
manufacturing standards, Yahsat ensuresthat all satellite operations throughout
their service life align with recommended
standards and operational procedures. To

Thuraya XT Pro Dual

1. Voice Support
XT Pro Dual: Use of dual sim setup to reduce waste and energy
consumption.

SatTrack Phase 2: Ship management support, providing sustainable fishing, protecting
biodiversity, and optimising fuel consumption in ships.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

CyLock – Secure
Portable Tracker

3. IOT Solutions

58

We regularly review and, if required,

update or remove items from our productportfolio to ensure that our offerings
remain in line with the latest market andcustomer trends within the space sector.
Notable Thuraya product and solutions
launches in 2023 included:

4. Land
Go Silent Encryption: Data protection system and data security support to users andgovernments.
Advanced Video Compression: Safety and surveillance support to enhance security. Also
provides support during natural disaster to contribute to social cause.
AI Early Wildfire Detection: Protecting biodiversity and preventing economic losses due
to fires.

2. Maritime Support

CyPod Container Tracking and CyTag and CyLock:
Enhancing logistics process, supporting the reduction of fuelconsumption, and eventually reducing carbon emissions.
Supporting aspects of food security by managing and storingfood.

mitigate space debris, Yahsat implements
end-of-life decommissioning for its
spacecraft, moving them to a graveyard
orbit after their operational lifespan.

Smart Irrigation: Providing sustainable water management solutions in the irrigation
process based on real time requirement, enhancing food security, and supporting water
conservation.

Thuraya IP+ for
Smart Irrigation

Yahsat’s satellites are innovatively
designed with a specified service life. The
satellite’s design, assembly, testing, andcommissioning processes are rigorously
undertaken to ensure compliance withdesign and service life specifications,

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Yahsat continues to innovate and offer
sustainable solutions for land, sea,
and aeronautical applications for ourcustomers, and showcases its contribution
to the UN Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) as acknowledged by the United
Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs(UNOOSA), regarding the potential use of
space-based services and technologies forsupporting the achievement of the SDGs.

innovation at all levels within theorganisation. We welcome ideas ofvarious sizes that hold the potential tosignificantly impact Yahsat’s revenue and/or contribute to cost-saving opportunities
having an impact on environmental, socialand governance factors. Exceptional
contributions made by successful ideas
and projects will be duly recognised andrewarded by Yahsat.

In 2023, Yahsat initiated an annual
Incubator Programme aimed at fostering

In 2023, Yahsat initiated a strategic
effort to merge its Network Operations

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

AppendicesCentres (NOC) into one Global Operations
Centre, aiming to significantly enhance
the management and support of various
satellite communication services, suchas Thuraya Mobile, YahClick Broadband,
Managed Enterprise Solutions, andCapacity Lease Services. By centralising
operations, Yahsat has realised substantial
savings in operating expenses and boosted
the effectiveness of support teams, which
now operate from a single location. This
integration promotes employee well-being

through flexible scheduling, it fosters acollaborative work environment, bringing
together employees with diverse skill
sets in satellite operations. This synergy
streamlines processes and enriches thecollective expertise of the workforce,aligning with Yahsat’s commitment todelivering top-tier satellite communication
services.

generating debris throughout theirorbital lifetime in line with Yahsat’sSpace Debris Mitigation Plan developedin 2023. Furthermore, Yahsat is alignedwith guidance from the United Nations
Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (COPUOS), adheres to Inter-Agency
Space Debris Coordination Committee(IADC) space debris mitigation guidelines,

and is committed to the long-termsustainability of space. Additionally, there
is a well-defined operational strategy inplace for collision prevention to protect
Yahsat’s satellites and to avert thecreation of unintended space debris. This
operational strategy also addresses theend-of-life disposal of our satellites, which
includes the de-orbit to a graveyard orbit,

the depletion of all energy sources andits passivation. The Yahsat satellite fleet
operates within its licensed spectrum
and in a manner to prevent harmfulinterference to other users of thespectrum and ensuring sustainable use of
space.

mapping, fish tracking, wildfire detection,
smart irrigation, wildlife tracking etc.
Its objectives include the protectionof biodiversity both at land and sea,conservation of natural flora and fauna,and the promotion of nature-based
initiatives such as mangrove plantation
for carbon sequestration, contributing toclimate change mitigation.

Nationally, Yahsat is aligned with the
UAE Ministry of Climate Change andEnvironment and its ‘National Carbon
Sequestration Project,’ targeting theplanting of 100 million mangroves by 2030

Sustainable Use of SpaceAs part of our ongoing efforts to adopt
best practices for sustainability in space,
Yahsat has implemented International
Standards such as ISO 24113:2023 formanaging space debris mitigation
requirements. It ensures that spacecraft
and launch vehicle orbital stages aredesigned, operated, and disposed ofin a manner that prevents them from

Biodiversity
Yahsat is positioning itself as a key
player in leveraging space technology
for environmental conservation at bothregional and global levels. Yahsat offers
pioneering solutions, including forest

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

59

throughout the UAE. Yahsat has actively
contributed to this national endeavour bycollaborating with a local environmental
authority and a social enterprise inplanting 500 mangroves throughemployee volunteering. This initiative
exemplifies Yahsat’s hands-on approachto biodiversity conservation and enhances
environmental resilience, underscoring
the Company’s commitment to positively
impacting the environment. Mangrove

plantation is also aligned to contributetowards the United Nations Decade on
Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.
Yahsat’s products and services haveplayed a pivotal role in monitoring oil
and gas pipelines, overseeing air quality
to curb carbon emissions, tracking water
resources to avert leakages and promotewater conservation, and facilitating smart
irrigation for crop safeguarding andensuring food security.

Developing Business
Partnerships“Yahsat is committed to continuously engage with its partners acrossthe Space value chain in order to build resilience and raise awarenessof responsible sourcing practices. By doing this we aim to foster
strategic partnerships, thereby ensuring economical, ethical, social,and environmentally friendly operations.”

Abu Dhabi Economic Vision
2030

Maritime Solution in Kazakhstan – Advanced Satcom Solutions

60

shore are essential. For example,
every spring, summer, andautumn, the company undertakes
environmental surveys (including
assessment of fish stocks) for the
Kazakhstan Ministry of Agriculture.
Thuraya Maritime Products Thuraya Marinestar and Thuraya
Orion IP are deployed for thevoice and data services to support
sea-to-shore communicationand improving the operational
efficiency of maritime research
fleets as follows:••

Helping crew in timely
reporting of the raw datacollected.
Providing connectivity anddata access for the crew inYahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023••

• Controversial Sourcing & Partnerships• Supply Chain Management• Develop a sufficient and resilient infrastructure capable ofsupporting the anticipated economic growth

Sustainable
Development Goals

the Caspian Sea.
Supporting IEC Telecom
equipped vessel with avoucher system, whichenables crew to use phone.
Facilitating KAPE to update
authorities on the status of
the ecosystem in the CaspianSea as well as develop
recommendations to improvethe existing ecologicalregulations/policies.

This project contributes tothe ‘Promoting Environmental
Protection’ pillar of the Yahsat
Sustainability Framework andoffers support to protect ecology
and biodiversity through Yahsat
products and services.

Material Issues Covered

fostering strategic business partnerships that alignwith our Sustainability Framework and promotesustainable procurement goals and practices.

UAE National Space Strategy • Effective local and international partnerships andinvestments in the space industry
2030

Case Study
The Kazakhstan Agency of Applied
Ecology (KAPE), performs scientificwork in the Caspian Sea which
involved daily communication
with technical experts onshore
via Thuraya, provided by IEC
Telecom. This includes bi-annual
examination of the fish stock andpotential impact of industrial
activity in Kazakhstan’s area of
the Caspian Sea. The projectgenerates a huge amount of raw
data that must be processed
and analysed to generate usable
scientific findings. In 2023, anaverage project involved thetransfer of 500Mb to 1GB raw data
via satellite from ship to shoreeach month. KAPE’s work is time
critical as vessels need to reportdaily. As such, fast data links to

We view our business partnerships as invaluableassets that have the potential to enhancesustainability throughout our value chain and help
mitigate operational risks. Our commitment lies in• Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect theUnited Nations Global
protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
Compact Principles – Human• Principle 4: The elimination of all forms of forced andRights and Labour
compulsory labour.
• Principle 5: The effective abolition of child labour.

Andrew Francis Cole

Chief Financial Officer, Yahsat

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

61

About this Report

Supply Chain Management
Yahsat has published a sustainableprocurement position statementthat guides integration of ESG andrelevant sustainability criteria into the
procurement process. We are committed
to promoting sustainable procurement
practices throughout our supply chain
and we encourage all our operations andsubsidiaries to induct the principle ofsustainable procurement. All our suppliers,and business partners are expected tocomply with our Business Partner Codeof Conduct, Code of Ethics and Group
Procurement Policy. Adhering to sucha process enables Yahsat to promotesustainable procurement principles,
including accountability, transparency,
ethical behaviour, equal opportunities,
addressing stakeholder interests,
compliance with national and internationallaws, respect for human rights, fair
operating practices, environmental
management, community involvement,
and continuous improvement. Moreover,sustainable procurement practices help
to foster the development of mutually
beneficial relationships that create longterm value and positively contributetowards sustainable development.
Yahsat is continuously striving to improve
its sustainable procurement performance.
To achieve this, we are bolstering ourefforts to encourage transparency andaccountability and responsible businesspractices among our suppliers. Moreover,
we are actively engaging with our suppliers

62

to enhance the overall ESG performancewithin our supply chain. In 2023, we haveadded a clause in our standard service
agreement for all types of suppliers to
improve environmental sustainability
outcomes, improve waste management
performance and use recycled content
wherever practicable. Additionally, we haveadded our expectation from all Yahsat
business partners in our Business Partner
Code of Conduct on adopting appropriate
and adequate measures on circular
economy approach at various stages ofa product’s lifecycle, including but notlimited to aligning to the use of recyclable
or refurbished materials, manufacturingwith resource efficiency, minimising andusing recyclable packaging, distributing
through least carbon emissions, anddisposing through recycling of products
at the end-of-life cycle. Our dedication
extends to giving precedence to suppliers
who exemplify Yahsat’s core sustainability
values. Furthermore, we are steadfastly
working towards encouraging local
sourcing initiatives, whilst simultaneously
extending financial support to projects
that align with our aspirations andcontribute to the advancement of the
UAE’s burgeoning space sector.

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

209
AED million
procurement spend on
local suppliers

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Responsible Sourcing & Partnerships
Supply Chain Performance
From the results, the number of local suppliers engaged in 2023 more than doubled
achieving almost 124 percent growth since 2022, and the percentage of procurement
spending on local suppliers increased by 18 percent in 2023 compared to 2022.
Procurement spending on local suppliers in 2023
35%

29%

30%
25%

21%

20%

11%

10%
5%
2020

2021

Principles and Rights at Work, and the United Nations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
All suppliers and business partners of Yahsat arescreened by using a comprehensive and meticulous
due diligence process. This comprehensive evaluationencompasses various criteria, including the identificationof sanctioned businesses or countries, a thoroughassessment of their geographical operations, scrutiny of
the nature of products and services offered to ensurecompliance with prohibitions, and an evaluation of theirassociation with businesses or sectors at risk of humantrafficking or slavery. A mechanism for whistleblowing
is also available to report any violation of our Business
Partner Code of Conduct.
In 2023, Yahsat was not involved in any incident ofcontroversial sourcing, neither did we engage with any
supplier or business partner who were on the list of
sanctions, watch list, politically exposed, violation of
UNGC, and any other adverse red flag areas.

Business Partners Events in Africa and Asia

16%

15%

0%

Yahsat’s Sustainable Procurement Position Statement
underscores Yahsat’s commitment to human rights andcontroversial sourcing. All business activities in Yahsat
are conducted to the highest standards set out in our
Business Partner Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics,
respectively. Each of these documents explicitly state
Yahsat’s stringent expectations for compliance withnational and international human rights principles, which
include the UAE’s human rights laws, the International
Labour Standards (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental

2022

2023

Supply Chain Management

2020

2021

2022

2023

Total number of local suppliers engaged (#)
Procurement spending on local suppliers (AED
million)
Percentage of procurement spending on local
suppliers (%)
Total procurement spending (AED million)

302

277

165

370

147

179

168

209

21%

16%

11%

29%

708

1,100

1,500

733

We encourage our employees, consultants, suppliers, business partners and third parties
to report any suspicious activities to Yahsat’s Ethics and Compliance function regarding any
procurement or compliance related aspects. We also provide periodic training to all theemployees involved in procurement activities to ensure organisation wide awareness on
procurement and supply chain related developments within the organisation.

As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen
our business partnerships, we organised two Partner
Pioneers conferences for our Thuraya and YahClick
Service Partners in the Asian and African regions. These
events were conducted to align Yahsat partners withbusiness goals and provide insights about our upcoming
products and solutions. The Yahsat Asia Week took

place from June 5th to 9th 2023, in Singapore, and saw
the participation of 40 business partners. Similarly, theYahsat Africa Week was held from November 13th to19th 2023, in South Africa, with the attendance of 60
business partners who are engaged with our products
and solutions. The main target partners included:Enterprises
Consumers
Telco Operators
Maritime: Fisheries, Work Boats,
Supply Vessels
Governments
Media

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

63

About this Report

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Our CSR Strategy Framework is aligned with various international, national, local standards and frameworks asrelevant. It has five major CSR Goals which are aligned with our Sustainability Framework detailed below:

SA 8000 - Social
Accountability International
Standard

ISO 26000 - Guidance on
Social Responsibility

UNSDG 2030 - United Nations
Sustainable Development
Goals

UNGC - United Nations
Global Compact

The National / Local Standards and Frameworks Include:
UAE Green Agenda 2030

UAE Space Strategy 2030

Abu Dhabi Vision 2030

UAE Net Zero 2050

UAE Centennial 2071
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)ESG Guide

Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030

VisionMissionCore Values

Yahsat Sustainability
Framework

Local Standards& Frameworks

International Standards& Frameworks

CSR Drivers

Five CSR Goals
Partnerships & Collaborations and CSR Governance

CSR
MissionCSR Core
ValuesTo be a recognised global leader in
empowering individuals and connecting
global communities.
To deliver technologically advanced
satellite solutions to positively
impact society and the environment.
Respect, Creativity, Agility,
Reliability and Community
Focus.

Connect Communities

Solve Societal Challenges

Empower Individuals

Engage Employees

Protect Environment

Connect & engage
communities to increase
digital inclusion

Solve societal challenges
with technologicallyadvanced satellite
solutions

Empower individuals
through digitalconnectivity, knowledge& skills

Engage employees tocreate long term value &make a difference

Protect environment to
reduce climate change

•

•

•
•

•

•

Increase digital
inclusion- To Unserved &Underserved- e-Learning

Yahsat Clinics- Teleconsultation• READY- Reliable EfficientAccessible Disaster
Support by Yahsat•••

Serving Customers & Communities

64

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Yahsat Save Lives
Space Outreach &Education
Educating Youth on
Space Sciences
Vocational Training inSatellite Technology
STEM Education forGirls

Yahsat Engage- Corporate
Volunteering Time
& Talent- Engaging Families• Corporate Giving- Employee
Donations- Corporate
Matching Funds

Investingin People••••

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships#
1

Sustainability Framework Pillar
Serving Customers and Communities

2
3

Investing in People
Promoting Environmental Protection

CSR Goals, Partnerships & Collaborations, and CSR Governance1. Connect Communities
2. Solve Societal Challenges
3. Empower Individuals
4. Engage Employees
5. Protect Environment

4

Developing Business Partnerships

Partnerships and Collaborations (applicable across all five CSR Goals of the CSR Strategy Framework)

5

Reliable Corporate Governance

CSR Governance (applicable across all five CSR Goals of the CSR Strategy Framework)

The International Standards and Frameworks Include:

Yahsat is a leader in advancing sustainable development andcreating value for our stakeholders, contributing towards relevant
local, national, and global social and environmental responsibility
goals. Our commitment is to provide vital communication solutions
to everyone to bridge the digital divide, serve the unserved andunderserved communities on a regional and global scale, andharness the potential of technologically advanced satellite solutions
for people and the environment. We developed a comprehensive
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy Framework in 2023
to act as a guide for actively contributing to the global social
responsibility agenda. Our CSR Strategy is based on:

CSR
VisionAbout Yahsat

The aspect of partnership andcollaboration is applicable across all five
CSR Goals and as per the respective
goals, various levels of partnerships andcollaborations are regularly developedwith ‘Not for Profit Organisations,’‘Government Organisations,’ ‘UN Agencies,’‘Social Enterprises’, ‘Private Organisations,’and ‘Community Organisations’.
CSR Governance will oversee theimplementation of the Yahsat CSR Strategy
Framework through CSR Policy, CSR
Committee, relevant standard operatingprocedures, periodic reviews, audits, andquarterly and annual reporting on
CSR performance going forward.
The ESG function also conducteda Yahsat CSR Strategy Framework
training and awareness session for
employees which was attended by
159 employees.

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

159
Employees attended
Yahsat CSR Strategy
Framework awarenesssessionRemoteSensing & Earth
Observation
Biodiversity
Climate Resilient
Nature Based
Solutions
Recycling

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

65

About this Report

About Yahsat

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Appendix A: Stakeholders

Appendices
Appendix A: Stakeholders
Appendix B: GRI Content Index, UNGC Disclosure and Abu Dhabi Securities
Exchange (ADX) ESG Metrics
Appendix C: UNGC Alignment
Appendix D: SASB Index Mapping

Key
Stakeholder
Regulatory
Bodies /Local
Governments

Employees

Expectations & Interests
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Customers••••

Suppliers

66

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023••

Compliance with applicableregulations and laws
Economic performance
Nationalization
Contingency planning
Business ethics
Prevention of corruption andanti-competitive behaviour
Personal and careerdevelopment
Competitive compensation
Engaging and challenging
opportunities
Equal opportunities
Knowledge sharing across theorganisation
Human rights
Employee volunteering

Data privacy and security
Network coverage andconnectivity
Prompt resolution of servicerelated issues
Enhanced technology andsolution offerings

Procurement practices
Compliance with applicableregulations and laws

Suppliers•••

Joint programmes andpartnerships
Interviews and meetings
Press releases
Public reports
Corporate website

Shareholders& Investors

•
•
•
•

Internal communications(intranet and emails)
Performance reviews
Training anddevelopment
programmes
Employee surveys
Corporate events
Public reports
Townhall meetings andforumsPeople surveys
Volunteering activities
Customer carerelationship managers
and representatives
Customer service
applications
Call centres
Industry events
Public reports
Corporate website
Social media
EmailsIndustry events
Screening andassessment

Local
Communities

Modes of Engagement
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Investing in People

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Business
Partners

•
•
•
•
•
•

Developing Business
Partnerships

Economic performance
Timely payment and fair terms
Health and safety standards••••
Business model and strategy•
Economic performance•
Allocation of capital•Compliance with applicable•regulations and laws•
Governance practices•
ESG/sustainability strategies and •practices
Employment opportunities•
Community investment and•development•
Education and knowledgetransfer•
Access to connectivity andservices•
Environment protection•
Business model and strategy
Economic performance
Compliance with applicableregulations and laws
Governance practices
Partnership opportunities
Aligned interests

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

AppendicesSite visits
ForumsJoint projects
Public reports
Annual General Meeting
Press releases
Public reports
Interviews and meetings
Broker conferences
Newsletters
Corporate website
Press releases
Corporate website
Community partnerships
and sponsorships
Forums and public
consultation
Education programmes
Environmental activities(mangrove plantation)
Annual General Meeting
Internal communications
Management meetings
Joint projects
Press releases
Public reporting
Partner events
One-to-one meetings
EmailsYahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

67About this Report

Appendix B: GRI Content Index, UNGC Disclosure and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) ESG Metrics
Statement of Use Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC has reported the information cited in this GRI content index for the period 1st January 2023 to 31st December
2023 in accordance with the GRI Standards.
GRI 1 used
GRI 1: Foundation 2021
GRI Standard
GRI 2: General
Disclosure 2021

Disclosure2 - 1 Organisational details
2 - 2 Entities included in the organisation’s sustainability reporting2 - 3 Reporting period, frequency and contact point
2 - 4 Restatements of information
2 - 5 External Assurance
2 - 6 Activities, value chain and other business relationships
2 - 7 Employees
2 - 8 Workers who are not employees
2 - 9 Governance structure and composition2 - 10 Nomination and selection of the highest governance body2 - 11 Chair of the highest governance body2 - 12 Role of the highest governance body in overseeing the managementof impacts
2 - 13 Delegation of responsibility for managing impacts
2 - 14 Role of the highest governance body in sustainability reporting2 - 15 Conflicts of interest
2 - 16 Communication of critical concerns
2 - 17 Collective knowledge of the highest governance body

GRI 2: General
Disclosure 2021

68

2 - 18 Evaluation of the performance of the highest governance body2 - 19 Remuneration policies
2 - 20 Process to determine remuneration
2 - 21 Annual total compensation ratio
2 - 22 Statement on sustainable development strategy
2 - 23 Policy commitments

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

UNGC Disclosure

ADX ESG Metrics

G7, G8.1
G13

G9

E12

G5, G11

S4.1, S4.2, S4.3, S5.1
S5.2
G1.1, G1.2, G2.1, G2.2
G2.1

G1, G7
G4, G5
G1
G2.1

G10

G1
G2, G3, G7, G7.1, HR2,
HR2.1, L1.1, E1.1

G3
G3
G3
S1.1, S1.2
G8.2
G8.2

Page Number andRemark8
6
6-7
6-7
No external
assurance
8-9
44 - 4644
22 - 24
22 - 24
22 - 2324
24
24
24 - 25
24
22, 2424
24
24 - 2548
4, 14 - 15
4, 16, 24, 26, 31, 44,
49, 63

About Yahsat

GRI Standard
GRI 2: General
Disclosure 2021

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Disclosure

Economic Performance
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 201: Economic
Performance 2016

UNGC Disclosure

Developing Business
Partnerships

ADX ESG Metrics

2 - 24 Embedding policy commitments
2 - 25 Processes to remediate negative impacts
2 - 26 Mechanisms for seeking advice and raising concerns
2 - 27 Compliance with laws and regulations

GRI 3: Material Topics
2021

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

G8, G8.1

2 - 28 Membership associations
2 - 29 Approach to stakeholder engagement
2 - 30 Collective bargaining agreements

L1.2

3 - 1 Process to determine material topics
3 - 2 List of material topics

G7, G7.1, HR3, L2, E2
HR1

3 - 3 Management of material topics

201 - 1 Direct economic value generated and distributed
201 - 2 Financial implications and other risks and opportunities due toclimate change
201 - 3 Defined benefit plan obligations and other retirement plans
201 - 4 Financial assistance received from government
Indirect Economic Impacts
GRI 3: Material Topics
3 - 3 Management of material topics
2021
GRI 203: Indirect
203 - 1 Infrastructure investments and services supported
Economic Impacts 2016 203 - 2 Significant indirect economic impacts
Procurement Practices
GRI 3: Material Topics
3 - 3 Management of material topics
2021
GRI 204: Procurement
204 - 1 Proportion of spending on local suppliers
Practices 2016

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Page Number andRemark4, 16, 24, 26, 31, 44,
49, 6326 - 27, 48, 62 - 63
27
No incidents
of non-compliance
8, 16 - 17, 59, 63
18, 67
Not applicable in
UAE
18
18 - 2032
32 - 33
56 - 57

E2, E3, E4, E4.1, E4.2, E5, E9

33
33
33
33
33
G4.1

62
62

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

69

About this ReportGRI Standard
Anti-corruption
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 205: Anticorruption 2016
Anti-competitive
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 206: Anticompetitive 2016
EnergyGRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 302: Energy 2016

Water and EffluentsGRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 303: Water andEffluents 2018
Biodiversity
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 304: Biodiversity
2016
Emissions
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021

70

Disclosure3 - 3 Management of material topics
205 - 1 Operations assessed for risks related to corruption
205 - 2 Communication and training about anti-corruption policies andprocedures

UNGC Disclosure
G7, G9, AC1, AC2, AC4, AC7,AC8G6AC3, AC5ADX ESG Metrics

Page Number andRemark

G5.1, G5.2

26

G5.2

27
26, 483 - 3 Management of material topics

26

206 - 1 Legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, andmonopoly practices

27

3 - 3 Management of material topics
302 - 1 Energy consumption within the organization
302 - 3 Energy intensity
302 - 4 Reduction of energy consumption
3 - 3 Management of material topics
303 - 3 Water withdrawal
303 - 4 Water discharge
303 - 5 Water consumption
3 - 3 Management of material topics
304 - 3 Habitats protected or restored

3 - 3 Management of material topics

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

G7, G9, E1, E2, E3, E4, E4.1,
E4.2, E5, E22
E10

E7.3

53

E3.1, E3.2, E5
E4

53 - 54
54
54

G7, G9, E1, E2, E3, E4, E4.1,
E4.2, E5, E22
E13
E13

52

E6.1, E6.2

E1, E2, E3, E4, E4.1, E4.2,
E5, E22E17

G7, G9, E1, E2, E3, E4, E4.1,
E4.2, E5, E22

53
53
53
59
59 - 60

E10 (captured in carbon
emissions table)

55

About Yahsat

GRI Standard

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Disclosure

Emissions
GRI 305: Emissions 2016 305 - 1 Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions
305 - 2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions
305 - 3 Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions
305 - 4 GHG emissions intensity
305 - 5 Reduction of GHG emissions
Waste
GRI 3: Material Topics
3 - 3 Management of material topics
2021
306 - 1 Waste generation and significant waste-related impacts
306 - 2 Management of significant waste-related impacts
GRI 306: Waste 2020306 - 3 Waste generated
306 - 4 Waste diverted from disposal
306 - 5 Waste directed to disposal
Employment
GRI 3: Material Topics
3 - 3 Management of material topics
2021
GRI 401: Employment
401 - 1 New employee hires and employee turnover2016
401 - 2 Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided totemporary or part time employees
401 - 3 Parental leave
Occupational Health and Safety
GRI 3: Material Topics
3 - 3 Management of material topics
2021
GRI 403: Occupational
403 - 1 Occupational health and safety management system
Health and Safety 2018 403 - 3 Occupational health services

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Page Number andRemark

UNGC Disclosure

ADX ESG Metrics

E6
E6
E6, E7, E7.1

E1.1
E1.2
E1.3
E2.1

55
55
55
55
54

G7, G9, E1, E2, E3, E4, E4.1,
E4.2, E5, E22

E7.1, E7.2, E8, E9

52

E19
E20
E20

52
52
52
52
52

G7, G944
S3.1, S3.2, S3.3

Appendices45
44, 4747 - 48

L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L11, L12

S8

49
49
49

403 - 4 Worker participation, consultation, and communication on
occupational health and safety
403 - 5 Worker training on occupational health and safety

49
49 - 50403 - 6 Promotion of worker health44, 49 - 50

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

71

About this ReportGRI Standard

Disclosure

Occupational Health and Safety
GRI 403: Occupational
403 - 8 Workers covered by an occupational health and safety management
Health and Safety 2018 system
403 - 9 Work-related injuries

UNGC Disclosure

ADX ESG Metrics

49
L9, L10S7403 - 10 Work-related ill healthTraining and Education
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 404: Training and
Education 2016

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

49
No work-related illhealth or fatalities

3 - 3 Management of material topics

404 - 1 Average hours of training per year per employee
404 - 2 Programmes for upgrading employee skills and transition assistanceprogrammes
404 - 3 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and careerdevelopment reviews
Diversity and Equal Opportunity
GRI 3: Material Topics
3 - 3 Management of material topics
G7, G9, HR2, HR3, HR4,
2021
HR5, HR6, HR8,
GRI 405: Diversity and405 - 1 Diversity of governance bodies and employees
G11, L7
Equal Opportunity 2016
405 - 2 Ratio of basic salary and remuneration of women to men
L8
Non-discrimination
GRI 3: Material Topics
3 - 3 Management of material topics
G7, G9, HR2, HR3, HR4,
2021
HR5, HR6, HR7, HR8, L1, L2,
L3, L4, L5, L11, L12
GRI 406: Non406 - 1 Incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken
discrimination 2016Child Labour
GRI 3: Material Topics
3 - 3 Management of material topics
G7, G9, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5,
2021
L11, L12
GRI 408: Child Labour
408 - 1 Operations and suppliers at significant risk for incidents of child2016
labour72

Page Number andRemark47
47 - 48
26, 48 - 50
48

46
S4.1, S4.2, S4.3, S11, G1.1,
G1.2
S2

23, 45 - 46

S6, S10.1, S10.2

26, 4648

About Yahsat

GRI Standard
Forced Labour
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 409: Forced Labour
2016
Security Practices
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 410: Security
Practices 2016
Local Communities
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 413: Local
Communities 2016
Customer Privacy
GRI 3: Material Topics
2021
GRI 413: Customer
Privacy 2016

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Disclosure3 - 3 Management of material topics

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

UNGC Disclosure

ADX ESG Metrics

Page Number andRemark

G7, G9, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5,
L11, L12

S10.1, S10.2

50

409 - 1 Operations and suppliers at significant risk for incidents of forced orcompulsory labour

50, 633 - 3 Management of material topics

50

410 - 1 Security personnel trained in human rights policies or procedures

50

3 - 3 Management of material topics

39, 41413 - 1 Operations with local community engagement, impact assessments,
and development programmes

39 - 423 - 3 Management of material topics
418 - 1 Substantiated complaints concerning breaches of customer privacy
and losses of customer data

AppendicesG6.1, G6.2

31
32

27

S9.1, S9.2, S10.1, S10.2

50
50, 63

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

73

About this ReportGRI Standard

Disclosure3 - 3 Management of material topics

Business Ethics
Description of Code of Ethics and trainings for employees
Business Continuity and Risk Management
GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 3 - 3 Management of material topics
Business Continuity and
Description of Business Continuity Management System and
Risk Management
Business Continuity Performance
Description of Risk Management and Internal Control Framework
Customer Relationship Management
GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 3 - 3 Management of material topics
Customer Relationship
Description of Customer Relationship Management and Customer
Management
Relationship Management Performance
Satellite Availability Performance, Satellite Transponder Availability
and YahClick Gateway Availability
Disaster Response
GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 3 - 3 Management of material topics
Disaster Response
Description of Disaster Response approach and support provided forvarious disaster incidents
Product, Innovation & Lifecycle Management
GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 3 - 3 Management of material topics
Product, Innovation &Description of approach, notable innovative products, and strategic
Lifecycle Management
efforts from Yahsat
Sustainable Use of Space
GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 3 - 3 Management of material topics
Sustainable Use of Space
Description of approach and strategic efforts from Yahsat
Responsible Sourcing & Partnerships
GRI 3: Material Topics 2021 3 - 3 Management of material topics
Responsible Sourcing &Partnership74

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Appendix C: Alignment to United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

Non GRI Material Topics

Business Ethics
GRI 3: Material Topics 2021

About Yahsat

Description of approach and strategic efforts from Yahsat

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

UNGC Disclosure

ADX ESG Metrics

Page Number andRemark

G8, G8.1, HR4, HR5, HR6, HR7,
HR8, AC1, AC2, AC4, AC7, AC8
AC3

G4.1, G5.1, G5.2

26

G5.2

26 - 27

HR4, HR6

28, 3029

UNGC Ten Principles
Area
Ten Principles
Human
Principle 1: Businesses should
Rightssupport and respect theprotection of internationallyproclaimed human rights.
Principle 2: Make sure that they
are not complicit in humanrights abuses.

30
35
35 - 36
36 - 3737
37 - 3858
58 - 59

59
59
G7, G7.1, G9, HR2, HR3, HR4,
HR5, HR6, HR7, HR8

G4.1

LabourPrinciple 3: Businesses should
uphold the freedom of
association and the effective
recognition of the right tocollective bargaining.
Principle 4: The eliminationof all forms of forced andcompulsory labour.
Principle 5: The effective
abolition of child labour.
Principle 6: The elimination of
discrimination in respect of
employment and occupation.

Current Status in Yahsat

Page
NumberOur Code of Ethics, Business Partner Code of Conduct, and Sustainable Procurement Position Statement, explicitly state
Yahsat’s stringent expectations for compliance with national and international human rights principles, which include
the UAE’s Human Rights Laws, the International Labour Standards (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles andRights at Work, and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Our Code of Ethics mandates Yahsat abides by all international and national human rights declarations and principles
related to employment practices, fair treatment, child labour, forced labour, and health and safety in the workplace. All
our business partners, including suppliers, are required to abide by the same human rights declarations and principles,
including child and forced labour, as stated in our Business Partner Code of Conduct. Yahsat’s Sustainable Procurement
Position Statement underscores Yahsat’s commitment to human rights and controversial sourcing.
We strongly encourage our suppliers to monitor, address, and disclose their performance regarding human rightsrelated issues, as well as to learn and share best practices to appropriately manage these issues. In 2023, no grievances
associated with human rights related issues were reported to the Ethics and Compliance function in Yahsat. We also
have a reporting platform and mechanism in place to report any violation of the Code of Ethics using our ethics andcompliance helpline.
Collective Bargaining agreements are illegal in the UAE and not applicable to Yahsat.
Yahsat has a Human Capital Policy which is governed by the UAE Labour Law and by the Abu Dhabi Pension Fund. Our
HC Policy defines the relationship between an employee and Yahsat, and the rights and obligations of both parties. Our
HC Policy also aims to allow employees to know their rights and obligations.

26, 50,62 - 63

26, 50,62 - 63

44

Same as response for Principle 2

26, 50,62 - 63

Same as response for Principle 2

26, 50,62 - 63
26 - 27,
46, 48,62 - 63

As per the Yahsat Code of Ethics, we treat everyone with respect and do not tolerate unfair treatment, harassment,
discrimination, abuse, or retaliation within the workplace. Yahsat’s Business Partner Code of Conduct also encourages
Fair Treatment for all employees and contractors. To maintain Gender Diversity, the Group is committed to equality, nondiscrimination and advancing gender diversity, with a view to increasing the ratio of female representation in all areas ofour business.
In 2023, no instances of discrimination were reported.

63
63

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

75

About this Report

UNGC Ten Principles
Area
Ten Principles
Environment Principle 7: Businesses should
support a precautionary
approach to environmental
challenges.

Principle 8: Undertake
initiatives to promote greater
environmental responsibility.

AntiCorruption

Principle 9: Encourage thedevelopment and diffusionof environmentally friendly
technologies.
Principle 10: Businesses should
work against corruption in all its
forms, including extortion andbribery.

Current Status in Yahsat

Page
Number

Chapter 8 - Promoting Environmental Protection provide a detailed overview of the precautionary approach toenvironmental challenges.
Yahsat’s group-wide HSE Management System Manual and ESG Policy reinforces Yahsat’s commitment to theenvironment by focusing on areas such as optimising natural resource consumption, promoting reuse of materials,
decreasing energy consumption, increasing recycling rates, and reducing the generation of waste and wastewater. The
Company proactively manages its environmental planning and resource usage and conducts regular assessments of its
annual environmental performance.
Chapter 8 - Promoting Environmental Protection provide a detailed overview of the initiatives to promote environmental
responsibility. Some major examples from 2023 include:
a. Waste - Initiatives for waste recycling (including electronic waste)b. Water - Installation of a sewage treatment plant at Yahsat HQ
c. Energy – Energy audit of Yahsat HQ, installation of EV charging stations, converting outdoor lighting to LEDs,
energy reduction by shutting down idle workstations.
d. Biodiversity – Planting 500 mangroves to support the National Carbon Sequestration project of the UAE.
Yahsat also conducted a comprehensive GHG Accounting exercise for its HQ in Abu Dhabi to capture Scope 1, Scope 2
and Scope 3 in detail and developed a decarbonisation pathway to contribute to the UAE Net Zero 2050 commitment.
Chapter 8 - Promoting Environmental Protection, section on Environmental Management, Energy Management, Product,Innovation and Life Cycle Management, Sustainable Use of Space, Biodiversity provide more details on development anddiffusion of environment friendly technologies.

52 - 57,
59 - 60

As per Yahsat’s Code of Ethics, we are committed to conducting business in accordance with the highest ethicalstandards and prohibit all forms of Bribery and Corruption. We follow global anti-bribery and corruption laws and avoid
the appearance of any conflict of interest that might violate applicable laws, harm relationships or impact organisational
reputation.

About Yahsat

Topic
Environmental Footprint of
Operations
Data Privacy

Data Security

Product End-of life
Management
Competitive Behaviour &Open Internet

26 - 27

Yahsat’s Ethics and Compliance function along with the Risk Management and Internal Control (RMIC) Framework
strive to assist the organisation and integrate risk management and internal control into all its activities and functions,
including any aspect of corruption and bribery as outlined in the Yahsat Code of Ethics.
Yahsat’s Code of Ethics is intended to enable the Group to achieve its commercial goals while operating with the highest
levels of integrity. In 2023, no instances of corruption were reported.

76

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Reliable Corporate
Governance

Serving Customers
and Communities

Investing in People

Promoting
Environmental
Protection

Developing Business
Partnerships

Yahsat Corporate
Social Responsibility
Framework

Appendices

Appendix D: SASB Index Mapping

52 - 57,
59 - 60

52 - 60

Our Approach to
Sustainability

Managing Systemic Risks
from Technology Disruptions

Sustainability Disclosure Topics Metric(1) Total energy consumed (GJ), (2) percentage grid electricity (%), (3) percentage renewable (%)

CodeTC-TL-130a.1

Description of policies and practices relating to behavioural advertising and customer privacy
Number of customers whose information is used for secondary purposes
Total amount of monetary losses as a result of legal proceedings associated with customer privacy

TC-TL-220a.1
TC-TL-220a.2
TC-TL-220a.3(1) Number of law enforcement requests for customer information, (2) number of customers whose
information was requested, (3) percentage resulting in disclosure(1) Number of data breaches, (2) percentage involving personally identifiable information (PII), (3)number of customers affected
Description of approach to identifying and addressing data security risks, including use of third-party
cybersecurity standards(1) Materials recovered through take back programmes, percentage of recovered materials that were(2) reused, (3) recycled, and (4) landfilled
Total amount of monetary losses as a result of legal proceedings associated with anti-competitive
behaviour regulations

TC-TL-220a.4

Page Number and Remark
54
100% grid electricity
31
32
No instance of legal
proceedings in 2023, nomonetary losses.
Not applicable

TC-TL-230a.1

32

TC-TL-230a.2

31

TC-TL-440a.1

52, 58 - 59

TC-TL-520a.1

Average actual sustained download speed of (1) owned and commercially associated content and (2)non-associated content

TC-TL-520a.2

Description of risks and opportunities associated with net neutrality, paid peering, zero rating, andrelated practices

TC-TL-520a.3(1) System average interruption duration, (2) system average interruption frequency and (3) customer
average interruption duration
Discussion of systems to provide unimpeded service during service disruptions

TC-TL-550a.1

No instance of legal
proceedings in 2023, nomonetary losses.
30, 36 - 37
Satellite availability
performance was 99.9%.
Satellite communication
services are provided
in coordination withlocal telecom network
providers.
28 - 29, 36

TC-TL-550a.2

28 - 29, 35 - 36

Yahsat | Annual Sustainability Report 2023

77

Yahsat ESG
www.yahsat.com
sustainability@yahsat.ae