MBRSC begins final tests for MBZ-SAT 2 satellite

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre announced on Saturday, November 14, 2026, that it had begun the final environmental and functional testing phase for the advanced Emirati satellite MBZ-SAT 2. The tests are being conducted ahead of its launch into Earth orbit early next year, when it will become the latest addition to the UAE’s national satellite fleet.

Ultra-high-resolution imaging and rapid data analysis
The new satellite features an ultra-high-resolution optical imaging system capable of capturing satellite imagery at twice the resolution of previous generations. An artificial intelligence-powered data processing system will enable images to be transmitted and analysed in less than two hours of being captured.

Developed by Emirati engineers and specialists
The satellite was designed and developed entirely at the centre’s laboratories in Dubai by a team of Emirati engineers and experts, with extensive participation from local private-sector companies in manufacturing mechanical structural components and electronic panels.

Supporting urban planning and environmental disaster management
MBZ-SAT 2 will provide high-quality space data to support urban planning projects, monitor environmental and agricultural changes, and assist relief efforts and the management of crises and natural disasters at regional and international levels.