The UAE Space Agency has established an industrial consortium to advance the “Sirb” project, with the potential for the initial satellite launch by 2026, as reported by the state news agency Wam on Sunday.
Introduced in 2022, the initiative aims to create a “constellation” comprising three synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. These satellites can generate detailed images of land use, ice cover, and surface changes, serving diverse purposes from monitoring oil spills and tracking weather to observing climate change.
Radar Satellites with Day-Night Imaging Capability Launched by UAE Crown Princes
Radar satellites possess the capability to capture images regardless of day or night and atmospheric conditions. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, launched the “execution phase” of the program.
“We aim to boost local expertise in the space domain, aligning with our ambitious vision for the UAE to emerge as a global centre for manufacturing and operating satellites,” stated Sheikh Khaled. “Our focus is on providing opportunities for national companies and the private sector to actively participate in this significant journey and contribute to the development of the space sector’s infrastructure.”
According to Sheikh Hamdan, Sirb represents a “strategic turning point in the UAE space sector, transitioning from a governmental and academic sector to an integrated governmental, private, and academic sector that supports the development of microtechnology and advances the space sector’s industrial progress.”
He added, “Our top priority is to empower start-ups, small and medium enterprises, and entrepreneurs, as they play a crucial role as the primary drivers for economic growth.”
Collaborations involving the Emirati public and private sectors, in conjunction with international partners, will construct the Sirb satellites, named after the Arabic term for a flock of birds, according to WAM.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s space sector continues to progress significantly. Recently, it emerged that individuals are in the process of establishing a specialized academy aimed at assisting future generations of Emiratis in building careers in the expanding space sector.
Both the academy and the Sirb initiative are components of a AED 3B ($820M) space fund outlined last year.
