Asia's First Laser Search Stations for Extraterrestrial Civilizations Launched in Saudi Arabia
SETI and the Royal Commission for AlUla have put two LaserSETI installations into permanent operation—the first such stations in Asia. They are located at the Manara AlUla Observatory in northwestern Saudi Arabia and are designed to search for transient optical signals, including technogenic laser flashes.
Installation was completed on August 19, 2026. The Saudi installations complement four North American sites—the California, Hawaii, and Arizona stations, as well as a facility in Puerto Rico. The network can now conduct continuous sky observations.
Each station operates cameras with a wide field of view and diffraction gratings. Data on potential events can be cross-referenced from multiple directions, helping to filter out interference.
The SETI agreement with the Commission is set for 3 years. It covers not only observations but also astronomy education and the integration of local researchers into international programs. No confirmed detection of extraterrestrial laser communication has been reported yet.
