Dubai: The National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) has officially started implementing the 813 satellite project, one of the initiatives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
During the COP 28 climate summit, the center’s pavilion, located in the Green Zone, witnessed the signing of the announcement of the launch of work on the project. Dr. Ghaleb Al Hadhrami, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates University, and Mr. Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the Emirates Agency, were present. For Space, Mr. Piao Zhou, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, and several senior invitees and engineers are working on the project.
The signing of the project agreement with the Chinese partner coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates, as relations between the two countries have witnessed great development in various fields, and over the past years the two countries have become strong friends who help… They complement each other and are important partners who work and coordinate together in regional and international affairs.
Mr. Ali Al Shehhi, Director of the National Space Science and Technology Center, said that,
Satellite 813 is the first space cooperation project between Arab countries, led by the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced Satellite 813 as a present to the Arab Space Cooperation Group. The announcement was made at the Global Space Conference (Abu Dhabi, March 2019) in light of signing the charter of the establishment.
With support from the Emirates Space Agency and collaboration with the United Arab Emirates University, Satellite 813 aims to improve space cooperation amongst Arab Cooperation Group nations by offering precise hyperspectral data.
This initiative comes from the leadership’s commitment and generous support towards establishing the group and encouraging its efforts to collaborate in space.
The new satellite has been named 813 and refers to the date that marked the beginning of prosperity for the House of Wisdom in Baghdad under the reign of Al-Ma’mun. Representing the region, the House embraced scientists, translated notable texts, and produced scientific capabilities.