The mobile telecommunication satellite will be positioned at 44° E. The satellite is owned, and will be operated by Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd., Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The 5250 kg (11,576 lbm) satellite is derived from the BSS 702 (formerly the HS 702) model. The US$960 million contract with Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company was signed by Hughes in 1997. It included the manufacture of two high-power BSS GEM (formerly HS GEM) satellites, launch of the first spacecraft, insurance, ground facilities, and user handsets. The second satellite is a ground spare, with an option for a third. The Thuraya ground segment includes terrestrial gateways plus a collocated network operations center and satellite control facility in the United Arab Emirates.

Thuraya 1 will transmit and receive calls through a single 12.25-meter aperture reflector. The reflector transmits and receives signals for an L-band feed array. The reflector weighs 78 kg (170 lbm), and compresses into a compact package 1.3 m (50 in) diameter by 3.8 m (150 in) for launch. Solar power is derived from two wings of four panels each with dual-junction gallium arsenide solar cells. In orbit, the satellite measures 34.5 m (113 ft) in length and 17 m (55.7 ft) in width, and will weigh 3200 kg (7056 lbm).