His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed appreciates the efforts of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre team in the successful launch of the "Mohammed bin Zayed Sat" mission

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, praised the distinguished efforts made by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre team in achieving a new success that will be added to the record of national achievements in the field of space technology, by launching the "Mohammed bin Zayed Sat" satellite.

His Highness stressed that this achievement reflects the ambitious vision of the UAE to enhance its leading position among advanced countries in space science and technology, praising the spirit of creativity and dedication that characterizes the work team, and its contribution to translating the aspirations of the wise leadership into a tangible reality.

This came during His Highness’s reception of a delegation from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, in the presence of His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, His Excellency Lieutenant General Talal Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Vice President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Centre, His Excellency Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General of the Centre, members of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, and the team of the Mohammed bin Zayed Sat satellite mission.

His Highness said: “I am proud of the skills provided by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre team in developing this satellite with Emirati hands... Their dedication and determination reflects our national vision aimed at empowering Emirati talent and enhancing their role in shaping the future of the global space sector.”

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum referred to the ambitious goals represented by the satellite, saying: “This mission is part of our ambitious strategy to enhance the sustainability of the space sector and build an advanced knowledge economy. With the support of our wise leadership, we will continue to work to achieve more successes that will place the UAE at the forefront of innovative and sustainable countries.”

His Highness concluded: “This mission will be followed by new achievements in the field of space... We will continue to make scientific contributions in cooperation with the global scientific community to enrich human knowledge, and the UAE will remain a source of radiation for science that serves humanity and spreads hope for a better future.”

For its part, the mission team presented to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the details of the development of the Mohammed bin Zayed Sat satellite by Emirati hands, the challenges facing the localization of the local industry and how to overcome them through cooperation with national companies.

The team succeeded in achieving the specifications and standards required for the space sector through partnerships with local companies such as Strata, Falcon, Halcon, Emirates Global Aluminium, Rockford Zelerex, and EBI. This cooperation resulted in the manufacture of 90% of the mechanical structure and most of the satellite’s electronic units within the UAE.

His Highness said: “I am proud of the skills provided by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre team in developing this satellite with Emirati hands... Their dedication and determination reflects our national vision aimed at empowering Emirati talent and enhancing their role in shaping the future of the global space sector.”

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum referred to the ambitious goals represented by the satellite, saying: “This mission is part of our ambitious strategy to enhance the sustainability of the space sector and build an advanced knowledge economy. With the support of our wise leadership, we will continue to work to achieve more successes that will place the UAE at the forefront of innovative and sustainable countries.”

His Highness concluded: “This mission will be followed by new achievements in the field of space... We will continue to make scientific contributions in cooperation with the global scientific community to enrich human knowledge, and the UAE will remain a source of radiation for science that serves humanity and spreads hope for a better future.”

For his part, the mission team presented to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum the details of the development of the Mohammed bin Zayed Sat satellite by Emirati hands, the challenges facing the localization of the local industry and how to overcome them through cooperation with national companies. The team succeeded in achieving the specifications and standards required for the space sector through partnerships with local companies such as Strata, Falcon, Halcon, Emirates Global Aluminium, Rockford Zillerex, and EBI. This cooperation resulted in the manufacture of 90% of the mechanical structure and most of the satellite’s electronic units within the UAE.

The team also reviewed the stages of the final days before the launch, where the launch team worked for 50 days at Vandenberg Air Force Base within SpaceX’s facilities, and conducted extensive tests to ensure the satellite’s readiness for launch. The team also provided an explanation of the details of the launch process, starting from the satellite’s separation from the Falcon 9 rocket, all the way to the testing and operation phase, where the efficiency of all satellite systems was verified.

Technological leap

Mohammed bin Zayed Sat, the most advanced satellite in the region, was launched on January 14, marking a milestone in the field of space technology, thanks to its exceptional ability to provide ultra-high-resolution images and record data transfer speeds to users around the world. Mohammed bin Zayed Sat is distinguished by its clear superiority over current systems, as it achieves double the accuracy in capturing images, four times faster data transfer speeds, and 10 times higher image productivity compared to traditional capabilities. This ambitious mission reflects the UAE’s vision to build a sustainable economy supported by scientific innovation, while committing to improving the quality of life globally by employing the latest space technologies.

A source of pride

His Excellency Lieutenant General Talal Humaid Belhoul, Vice President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said: “We extend our sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his unlimited support for the efforts of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, which had a significant impact on achieving this national achievement.

This support reflects the vision of the wise leadership to enhance the UAE’s leadership in the space sector and empower national competencies to be part of this ambitious path. Thanks to this inspiring vision, we will continue to work hard and with determination to achieve more achievements that enhance the UAE’s position on the map of advanced countries in space science and technology. The “Mohammed bin Zayed Sat” mission will enhance the efforts of the UAE’s National Space Programme, by providing data and technologies that contribute to serving various fields within the UAE and around the world.”

His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said: “Meeting His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a tribute to the efforts of the Centre’s team and a great support for our journey towards achieving more qualitative achievements in the space sector.

These achievements are not just technical steps, but rather an expression of a national vision that seeks to empower young Emirati minds and consolidate the country’s position as a global centre for innovation and sustainability in space sciences. The launch of the Mohammed bin Zayed Sat satellite represents an advanced stage in our ambitions in the field of space technologies, and reflects the cooperation and integration between the various work teams, whose creativity and ability to achieve the set goals with precision and professionalism we are proud of.

We are also committed to continuing to build on these successes to meet the aspirations of our wise leadership and the UAE’s vision for the future” .

National Competencies

For his part, His Excellency Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, said: “We extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his continuous support and great interest.

This meeting reflects His Highness’s keenness to follow up on national achievements in the field of space. Mohammed bin Zayed Sat is the result of the tireless work and dedication of national cadres who believe in the importance of their role in achieving the UAE’s vision to be among the leading countries in the field of space science and technology.

We are committed to developing more ambitious projects and missions that contribute to enhancing the country’s capabilities in this vital field, and open new horizons for scientific and research cooperation with various partners inside and outside the country.”