UAE marks another milestone in space programme as Etihad-SAT lifts off

Etihad-Sat, the UAE's first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, lifted off abroad SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force base in California at 10.43 am on Saturday.

It marks another milestone in the country’s ambitious space programme.

Etihad-Sat will provide high-precision Earth observation, day or night, in any weather condition to enable uninterrupted, consistent data collection to will help in detecting oil spills, managing natural disasters and enhancing maritime navigation. 

Liftoff! The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the SAR satellite Etihad-SAT, has launched.#EtihadSAT pic.twitter.com/OHmVop0NsI

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 15, 2025

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's Crown Prince and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, had announced the completion of the project last month. 

In his statement at the time, Sheikh Hamdan emphasised the UAE’s ambitious vision for the space sector, highlighting the role of the nation's youth in driving the country’s global leadership in space exploration.

He added that this project is a key step toward a brighter future, with the UAE continuing to push the boundaries of space exploration.

Here is an overview of the technological features of Etihad-SAT, the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite developed by MBRSC in partnership with Satrec Initiative from South Korea.#EtihadSAT pic.twitter.com/l4U6W8nAcT

— MBR Space Centre (@MBRSpaceCentre) March 13, 2025