More so than many other global regions, the UAE’s success is founded on the riches of the Earth. The region’s history has been forged in its oil wells and refineries as the region fuelled an era of global industrialisation. But for a glimpse into the future of the UAE’s economy, it’s time to look up from the ground, and instead cast our eyes upwards towards the stars.
In recent years, the ‘new space’ economy has reached the stratosphere. Private companies and state organisations alike have reignited an interest in the exploration and exploitation of space. Now, the UAE’s public and private sector organisations are staking claims of their own, with the intention of unlocking sustainable growth and strategic intelligence through space-based initiatives.
UAE officials have already announced plans to launch human space flights every three-to-five years. This announcement was made following the successful lift-off of Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi for the longest Arab space mission in history.
With regard to the economic opportunities of the new space economy, one of the more promising areas for seeing a relatively quick return on investment is in the area of satellite communications.
Recognising this opportunity, in 2022 the UAE launched an $820 million national space fund to support new initiatives. The first tranche of money from this fund has been allocated to the establishment of a remote sensing satellite constellation called “Sirb” (Arabic for “a flock of birds”).
It’s easy to see why the Emirates is prioritising remote sensing capabilities. Modern satellites that use synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology are capable of capturing images with unprecedented levels of resolution. What’s more, as the technology works by bouncing radar beams off the Earth’s surface, they can take images through clouds and smoke, and even take images of the ground at night.
While satellites still remain complex, advances in the technology and manufacturing approaches have made it easier to build and launch them. As a result of these technical advances, SAR satellites promise to unlock a range of use cases that can help public agencies and businesses in the UAE thrive. Here are just a few:
Port monitoring
Middle Eastern ports handle around 20 percent of global seaborne trade and as with all ports have to contend with a range of issues including capacity management, exposure to transshipment, lagging port productivity, and security threats. SAR imaging can help meet these challenges by providing up-to-the minute intelligence on port operations.
For instance, with SAR satellite data, operators can monitor detailed changes in port infrastructure. The imagery provides information on construction and operational activities, down to millimetre-scale changes. SAR imaging can also help monitor shipments of containers and other goods, often and in great detail. The radar images deliver information about the volume, the frequency of transport, and the type of cargo – all critical information from a security perspective.
Oil spill monitoring
While large oil spills make the headlines, 80 percent of total oil spills are attributable to small vessels of below seven tonne. SAR imaging can help by providing actionable data on these smaller events so responders can rapidly identify the source of the spill, take mitigation action, and possibly file claim against the polluters. For larger spill that represent a threat to national water , a network of SAR satellites can enable wide area monitoring of coastline and sea route, enabling responders to counteract oil pill faster and more efficiently.
Maritime domain awareness
Another key concern for the UAE is the ability to monitor sea routes for security purposes. Coastal radars have a limited range, and cloud and darkness make it even more difficult to obtain imagery with optical instruments.
As mentioned, SAR satellite solve the challenge of cloud and darkness, and in a sufficiently large network can also provide the round-the-clock coverage many legacy satellite providers fall short of. The best SAR satellite constellation enables users to detect unreported vessels or any suspicious activities, like ship-to-ship transfer , and take immediate action.
The UAE has set itself the ambition of establishing a Martian outpost by 2117. It’ a huge ambition and a real marker of just how seriously Emirates is taking this new space age. However, long before we see Emiratis on the Red Planet, we can expect to see the UAE take its place at the forefront of the new space economy, bringing to market technologies and services that will have a transformative impact on businesses and governments right here on Earth.