Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
Established in 2006, MBRSC is the UAE's flagship space technology hub and incubator of the UAE National Space Programme. It designs, builds and operates Earth-observation satellites (DubaiSat-1/2, KhalifaSat, MBZ-SAT, Etihad-SAT) and leads the Emirates Mars Mission, Emirates Lunar Mission, the UAE Astronaut Programme and the MBR Explorer asteroid mission.
Products & Services
KhalifaSat
operationalFirst satellite 100% designed and manufactured by Emiratis; high-resolution remote-sensing imagery from ~613 km LEO.
Since 2018
MBZ-SAT
operationalMost advanced EO satellite in the region, fully developed by Emirati engineers; launched on Falcon 9 in January 2025 with roughly twice the imaging accuracy of prior satellites.
Since 2025
Etihad-SAT
operationalMBRSC's first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, all-weather day-and-night imaging; developed with South Korea's Satrec Initiative. Launched March 2025.
Since 2025
Emirates Mars Mission "Hope" (Al Amal)
operationalFirst interplanetary spacecraft developed by the UAE; entered Mars orbit on 9 February 2021 to study the Martian atmosphere and climate.
Since 2021
Rashid Rover (Emirates Lunar Mission)
retired10 kg lunar rover; launched Dec 2022 aboard ispace's Hakuto-R Mission 1 and lost when the lander crashed on 25 April 2023.
MBR Explorer (Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt)
development~2.8-tonne spacecraft planned to launch March 2028, flying by six asteroids before deploying a lander on asteroid 269 Justitia (~2034-2035).
UAE Astronaut Programme
operationalHuman-spaceflight programme; Hazzaa AlMansoori flew an 8-day ISS mission in 2019 and Sultan AlNeyadi completed a ~6-month ISS mission in 2023.
Since 2019
DMSat-1
operationalEnvironmental nanosatellite monitoring air quality, aerosols and greenhouse gases over the UAE.
Since 2021
Key Challenges
No events recorded.