UAE University Launches Arab Satellite 813

UAE University (UAEU) announces completion of preparations for the launch of Arab Satellite ‘813’, scheduled for the last quarter of 2025. Developed by the university’s National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), the project exemplifies academic excellence and regional collaboration, providing students and engineers with hands-on experience in satellite design, integration, and environmental research.

Naming the satellite ‘813’ honors the Hijri year marking Baghdad’s House of Wisdom, symbolizing the Arab world’s legacy of knowledge and innovation. This 200-kilogram satellite will be launched into a sun-synchronous orbit at 550–650 km for high-resolution Earth observation missions, supporting environmental mapping, natural resource management, and climate research.

Equipped with the first locally developed hyperspectral imaging system capturing over 200 spectral bands, ‘813’ will offer advanced insights through its S-band and X-band communication systems managed via a ground station at UAEU’s Al Ain campus. The satellite’s data supports research in agriculture, pollution, geological exploration, and more through machine learning-powered platforms.

This historic Pan-Arab initiative, led by the UAE and funded by the UAE Space Agency, strengthens regional scientific cooperation and positions the UAE as a leader in space technology and innovation, fueling scientific advancement and sustainable development in the Arab world.