UAE University Announces Readiness for Launch of Arab Satellite ‘813’

Al Ain, Oct. 8 : United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has confirmed the completion of preparations for the upcoming launch of the Arab satellite '813', scheduled for the final quarter of 2025. Developed by the university’s National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), the satellite is part of a pioneering educational and research initiative aimed at fostering scientific innovation and regional collaboration in the space sector.

Named after the Hijri year marking the founding of Baghdad’s House of Wisdom, ‘813’ weighs approximately 200 kilograms and will be launched into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 550–650 kilometers, enabling efficient Earth observation capabilities. It features a hyperspectral imaging payload locally developed and the first of its kind in the region capable of capturing more than 200 narrow spectral bands across visible and infrared wavelengths. 

The satellite was designed, assembled, integrated, and tested entirely at the NSSTC laboratories, demonstrating the UAE’s capacity to lead complex space missions using national talent. More than 30 engineers, including Arab professionals trained in satellite engineering, contributed to the project, providing hands-on learning experiences for students and researchers at UAEU.

The ground station on UAEU’s Al Ain campus has completed successful communication tests and will handle all mission operations, including data reception, processing, and analysis. The data will support research in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and natural resource management, with advanced tools such as the “HyperX” platform leveraging machine learning to generate actionable insights for decision-makers.

Funded and supervised by the UAE Space Agency and implemented by UAEU’s NSSTC in cooperation with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and other Arab states, the ‘813’ satellite marks the first Pan-Arab space project. It was initiated under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, and presented to the Arab Space Cooperation Group during the 2019 Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi.

The mission reflects the UAE’s leadership in promoting Arab scientific collaboration and investing in local capacity-building to advance the region’s role in global space exploration.