Photo courtesy of Egypt's cabinet
A cabinet statement said the meeting, chaired by Egypt and hosted by Oman, brought together representatives from several Arab countries to coordinate positions and strengthen cooperation in space science and technology, amid growing regional interest in the sector’s applications.
Egypt led the session, with Majed Ismail, chief executive of the Egyptian Space Agency, and participants from Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Iraq, and Jordan, highlighting a shared commitment to joint Arab action in space.
Officials discussed ways to align national strategies, enhance technical coordination, and build sustainable Arab space capabilities. Participants stressed the role of the Arab Group for Space Cooperation as a platform for exchanging expertise, fostering partnerships, and advancing projects of common interest.
The review of satellite “813” focused on updates to its flight-testing phases, conducted according to approved technical standards to ensure the satellite meets its scientific and applied objectives.
The project is designed to support Earth observation and remote-sensing applications, with expected benefits for agriculture, water management, and environmental and climate monitoring.
In remarks to the meeting, Ismail said Egypt remained committed to supporting Arab space cooperation and unifying efforts to build an integrated Arab space ecosystem capable of keeping pace with global advances and serving national and regional development plans.
The meeting concluded with calls for ongoing coordination, more frequent technical consultations, and close follow-up on joint projects led by satellite “813,” as well as for strengthening Arab participation in regional and international space-related forums.
The Arab satellite “813,” the first flagship project of the Arab Group for Space Cooperation, traces its origins to March 2019, when Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum witnessed the signing of the group’s founding charter, bringing together 11 Arab states around a joint space initiative.
The satellite was named “813” after the year 813 AD, which marked the flourishing of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, a period associated with scientific advancement and intellectual exchange.
Officials say the project aims to revive that legacy by uniting Arab expertise in a single Earth-observation mission focused on environmental monitoring and knowledge-driven development.
Project documents describe “813” as the first Arab space project to provide Arab experts and researchers with direct participation in developing and operating advanced space technologies.
It is also the first satellite in the Arab world to be equipped with hyperspectral imaging technology, carrying 205 spectral bands that enable high-precision analysis of the Earth’s surface.
The satellite is designed to strengthen the Arab world’s capacity to monitor environmental change and use space-based data to support climate, agricultural, and water policies, contributing to scientific responses to global challenges.
Its objectives include building Arab technical skills in space science and innovation, encouraging wider Arab engagement in the space sector, and enhancing cooperation through joint projects under the Arab Group for Space Cooperation.
Satellite “813” carries three integrated payloads: a hyperspectral imaging system operating across the visible and short-wave infrared spectrum; a high-resolution panchromatic imager for detailed surface mapping; and an atmospheric polarimeter designed to correct atmospheric effects and improve the accuracy of environmental and climate observations.
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