UAE announces launch of Arab group for space collaboration

As many as 11 Arab countries have signed up to the charter which will facilitate cooperation between the members on space exploration.

The announcement was made by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on the sidelines of the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi.

His Highness confirmed the first project will be a satellite named 813 that Arab scientists will jointly develop in the UAE. 

The number 813 refers to the year in which the House of Wisdom in Baghdad reached prosperity during the reign of Al-Ma'mun.

The House brought together scientists, translated books of knowledge and became a place where the region’s scientific community flourished.

.@HHShkMohd:Today at the Global Space Congress in Abu Dhabi, we attended the signing of a charter to establish the first Arab body for space cooperation, bringing together 11 Arab states. Its first project will be a satellite that Arab scientists will work on from here in the UAE pic.twitter.com/4Lci1xJW0e

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 19, 2019

.@HHShkMohd: This satellite will be called “813”, which is the date that the House of Wisdom in Baghdad reached prosperity during the reign of Al-Ma'mun. The House brought together scientists, translated knowledge and became a place for region to unleash its scientific energy. pic.twitter.com/KCkPA000fZ

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 19, 2019