The UAE's latest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite has lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre confirmed the launch took place on Saturday at 10.43am. The first signal from the satellite was received at 12.04pm.
The launch of the radar satellite complements the centre's existing Earth observation fleet. Etihad-Sat, a 220kg SAR satellite, is equipped with technology capable of monitoring the planet in any weather, day and night. It has gone into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission from a California spaceport.
"This achievement highlights the UAE’s capability to develop cutting-edge space technologies while maintaining strategic partnerships with the global space community," said Salem Al Marri, director general at MBRSC.
"These collaborations are essential for knowledge exchange and advancing joint efforts, ultimately helping us achieve ambitious goals in space science and technology."
Etihad-Sat is MBRSC’s first SAR satellite and will fill gaps in its fleet, which includes high-resolution optical imaging satellites such as KhalifaSat and the recently launched MBZ-Sat. These are limited to capturing photos in clear weather and can be impeded by cloud cover, haze and atmospheric interference.
On Tuesday, Salem Al Marri, director-general of the space centre, wrote on X: “We have completed our preparations for the Etihad-Sat mission, MBRSC’s first synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite. All the best to the team working on this mission.”
What sets Etihad-Sat apart?
The satellite, which was built in partnership with South Korea's satellite manufacturing company Satrec Initiative, is expected to serve industry by detecting oil spills and monitoring natural disasters, improving navigation at sea and supporting smart agriculture and the environment.
Sarath Raj, project director of the satellite ground station at Amity University Dubai, told The National that the technology is capable of penetrating clouds, fog and darkness to capture images.
“This advancement dramatically enhances data reliability, particularly crucial for disaster response, where timely and accurate information is essential for assessing flood damage, tracking landslides and monitoring other hazards regardless of environmental conditions,” he said.
KhalifaSat tracks urban growth and environmental changes. Between 2021 and 2022, its images helped researchers to identify about 20,600 new buildings and vegetation shifts across 873 hectares in Dubai, assisting urban planning. It also provided imagery during the California wildfires in 2020 to help emergency teams assess damage and co-ordinate relief efforts.
However, while KhalifaSat captures sharp images, it depends on clear skies and atmospheric conditions. Etihad-Sat's SAR technology can gather data around the clock.
“SAR provides high-resolution insights that empower decision-makers to act swiftly and effectively,” said Dr Raj.
MBZ-Sat, which is three times more powerful than KhalifaSat, was launched on January 14, but the space centre is yet to post the first image taken by it on social media, which it does with most missions.
What is SAR?
SAR technology was developed for military and scientific use in the 1950s. The first SAR satellite, Nasa's Seasat, was launched in 1978.
It is now more in-demand than ever, thanks to advances such as artificial intelligence-driven data analysis. Increasing climate challenges have also made the technology an important tool for disaster response and environmental monitoring.
More countries and private companies are investing in SAR, recognising its ability to provide uninterrupted, high-precision Earth observation.
Amar Vora, head of space at consultancy company Serco Middle East, told The National that the space centre is now “well-positioned to contribute to the global demand for high-quality geospatial intelligence”.
“By integrating SAR into its growing satellite fleet, the UAE joins an exclusive group of nations that provide both optical and radar-based Earth observation data,” he said. The US, Italy, China, Canada and Germany also have the technology.
The UAE’s first SAR satellite, Foresight-1, was launched last year by YahSat and Bayanat, two Abu Dhabi organisations that merged to form an AI-powered space technology business called Space42. This created one of the world's most valuable publicly listed space companies. Foresight is part of a constellation of seven SAR microsatellites Space42 is planning to operate.
The UAE has been investing heavily in Earth observation capabilities, with the local market size currently estimated at $980 million and expected reach $1.49 billion by 2029, according to market research company Mordor Intelligence. The MBRSC has developed and launched six Earth observation satellites since 2009.
Launch of Bahraini satellite
The SpaceX rocket on Saturday also carried the Al Munther satellite, the first to be developed entirely by Bahraini engineers. The 3.2kg nanosatellite, which will be used for environmental monitoring and disaster response efforts, is equipped with artificial intelligence-powered image processing, cybersecurity features and radio broadcast capabilities.
Engineers from the country's National Space Science Agency developed the satellite, with payload testing taking place at the UAE's National Space and Technology Centre in Al Ain.
The UAE and Bahrain collaborated in 2022 on the Light-1 nanosatellite, which has enhanced the study of charged particles above thunderstorms that release harmful levels of radiation.
In a phone call on Saturday, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, extended his congratulations to King Hamad on the successful launch.
MATCH INFO
Everton 2 (Tosun 9', Doucoure 93')
Rotherham United 1 (Olosunde 56')
Man of the Match Olosunde (Rotherham)
New schools in Dubai
ASHES FIXTURES
1st Test: Brisbane, Nov 23-27
2nd Test: Adelaide, Dec 2-6
3rd Test: Perth, Dec 14-18
4th Test: Melbourne, Dec 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, Jan 4-8
Elvis
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ABU%20DHABI%20CARD
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TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Khalid%20Fahad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Shaima%20Al%20Tayeb%2C%20Wafa%20Muhamad%2C%20Hamss%20Bandar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday
AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)
Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)
Benevento v Parma (5pm)
Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)
Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)
Lazio v Spezia (5pm)
Napoli v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)
Torino v Juventus (8pm)
Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
'Nope'
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Company%20Profile
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UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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