Posted on

EIAST Welcomes Visit of High Level Delegation from Kazakhstan

 The visit falls in line with the move to bolster mutual cooperation between EIAST and Kazakhstan’s National Space Agency
UAE, June 9, 2014 – The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) recently hosted the visit of a high level Kazakhstan delegation headed by His Excellency (H.E.) Kairat Lama Sharif, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The visit falls in line with the move to bolster mutual cooperation between EIAST and Kazakhstan’s National Space Agency (KazCosmos), particularly in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. The group was met by EIAST’s top officials headed by H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIASTand Eng. Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs.

During their visit, the Kazakhstan delegation was briefed on EIAST’s recent achievements like the successful launching of DubaiSat-1, the first remote sensing satellite to be fully owned by a UAE entity, in 2009 and DubaiSat-2, an electro-optical earth observation satellite system, in 2013. The group was also able to learn about the current status of the KhalifaSat project, the UAE’s first locally-built satellite that is expected to be launched into space in 2017. Currently, a team of Emirati experts and engineers are involved in the planning and designing of KhalifaSat, which will help strengthen the standing of the Arab region in the competitive field of space science. The delegation was also toured around EIAST’s key facilities, which includes the ground station of DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2 satellites, which provide high-quality satellite images for environmental projects, urban planning, infrastructure and scientific research in the UAE.
H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIAST, said: “We are truly honored to have been visited by H.E. Ambassador Sharif and his group of embassy and consular officials. During their visit, we were able to keep them up to date on EIAST’s milestone achievements and the current work that we are doing, particularly KhalifaSat. The strong ties that we have maintained with Kazakhstan are ably reflected in an MoU that we signed with them in 2011, where both EIAST and Kazakhstan’s National Space Agency have pledged to work together towards developing advancements for the space industry.”
In response to their visit to the EIAST, the Kazakhstan delegation expressed interest in continuously working together with the UAE in the fields of satellite communication and earth remote sensing. The group thanked the EIAST’s warm reception and reaffirmed their commitment to establish cooperation in key areas such as space science, global satellite navigation and use of space infrastructure.
Eng. Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, said: “The visit of the Kazakhstan delegation was an excellent opportunity for us to give them a key tour of our facilities while also updating them on our latest programs and initiatives. Rest assured that as per our mutual agreement with KazCosmos, we will continue to work closely with them and aid them in their space industry endeavors, especially in their satellite projects.”
Ambassador Sharif was joined by Yerzhan Kalekenov, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Abu Dhabi;  Alibek Almabekov, Counselor of the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Dubai and Ibrahim Aushev, Diplomatic Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Abu Dhabi.
EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 to encourage scientific innovation and technological progress in Dubai and in the UAE. It also aims to develop the scientific skills and knowledge of Emiratis. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.
Posted on

Mutual Cooperation Covers Areas of Remote Sensing Applications, Space Communications, and Global Navigation Systems using Satellites

EIAST signs MoU with Dubai Municipality to facilitate knowledge sharing & manpower investment
UAE, May 26, 2014 – In line with the common aspirations to position Dubai as a premier Smart City, the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai Municipality to facilitate knowledge transfer, sharing of data and practical experiences, and developing human resources in the areas of space science, remote sensing applications, space communications, and navigation systems using global satellites. The MoU was signed by Eng. Abdullah Mohammed Rafi, Deputy General Manager of Engineering & Planning, Dubai Municipality and Salem Humaid Al Marri, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST, in the presence of a number of senior managers and officials from both parties.
H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIAST, stressed the importance of building a fruitful cooperation with Dubai Municipality, meeting the highest scientific and technical competence standards. This is in support of the UAE’s vision to transform itself into a major hub for satellite manufacturing. He emphasized EIAST’s commitment to prioritize the future needs of Dubai Municipality in terms of developing engineering designs for satellites such as satellite images applications to contribute to the efforts of achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.

Eng. Abdullah Mohammed Rafi, Deputy General Manager of Engineering & Planning, Dubai Municipality and Salem Humaid Al Marri, Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST.
Al Shaibani said: “We are confident that the new MoU will be a significant addition to our extensive network of strategic and strong partnerships with the industry leaders locally, regionally, and internationally. This partnership undoubtedly supports our efforts to reinforce UAE’s position as one of the world’s developed countries in line with the vision and directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.”
For his part, Rafi stressed that Dubai Municipality is keen on establishing strong cooperation and strategic inter-dependence with institutions and groups of public welfare and community services. The commitment demonstrates Dubai Municipality’s efforts to develop and create effective, easy-to-use, smart services for the community.
Rafi expressed his pleasure with Dubai Municipality’s strategic partnership with EIAST, which leads the march of scientific progress and technical innovation in the UAE. He stressed that the joint efforts in the fields of knowledge transfer, human resources development, remote sensing applications and space communications will give positive results in terms of supporting the vision of Municipality Dubai centered around making Dubai as one of the most sustainable cities in the world in preparation for ‘Expo 2020.’ He said Dubai Municipality is looking forward to benefiting from EIAST’s high level of expertise and advanced technologies. The partnership, will contribute to the success of the municipality’s projects that embody the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai
Salem Al Marri, said: “Our new partnership gains a strategic dimension of being a pillar for employing our vast experiences and developed technologies in the field of space industry to support ambitious projects of Dubai Municipality, which represent an important pillar to advance excellence and leadership pursued by the emirate under the policy of our wise leadership. We look forward to exchanging knowledge and recent research work with Dubai Municipality. Both organizations will also organize joint conferences, interactive workshops, and specialized exhibitions for satellite imagery in the field of remote sensing and geographic information systems. The field would represent an added value to the framework of Dubai Municipality.”
Under the MoU, EIAST will provide Dubai Municipality with multispectral space images satellite and high quality Panchromatic images of Dubai. Dubai Municipality, on the other hand, will provide Ground Control Points, spatial and geographic data to support the projects and initiatives of EIAST.
The MoU also provided a platform to promote prospects for cooperation between the two parties through exchange of practical experiences and development of human resources in the areas of space and science, including space science, remote sensing applications, space communications and global navigation systems using satellites. Both sides agreed that EIAST would help Dubai Municipality to complete the database information of the geographic information system. It would also assist in enhancing the efficiency of monitoring and prediction of natural hazards such as sand storm forecasting, monitoring and forecasting of fog, analyzing water quality in the Emirate of Dubai. EIAST will provide services to help train the staff of Dubai Municipality and refine their skills and technical capabilities through cooperation in the areas of research, training and exchange of information and knowledge as well as organizing conferences, workshops and shows related to applications of satellite imagery in remote sensing area and in the field of geographic information systems. The two parties will also cooperate in all areas, activities and systems to share data to serve the public interest in Dubai.
The two parties agreed to form a joint working group to oversee the implementation of the MoU and ensure the exchange of data between them. They are also discussing the possibility of allowing Dubai Municipality’s various departments to use satellite images. The departments include Environmental Management, Survey Department, Department of Agriculture, and others. The joint working group will also discuss the possibility of technical cooperation between the two parties so that EIAST could take into account the needs of the Municipality when designing the specifications of future satellites as well as when studying the programs and available tools. These tools may be effective and useful in terms of utilizing geographic information systems and remote sensing. The working group will also ensure that the two parties will obtain the required data to face future challenges and to allow them to perform any task that may be assigned by either party and is required to implement the MoU.
EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 to encourage scientific innovation and technological progress in Dubai and in the UAE. It also aims to develop the scientific skills and knowledge of Emiratis. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.
Posted on

EIAST Participates as Strategic Partner for World Space Risk Forum 2014

Event represents opportunity to showcase UAE’s space program to global space leaders
  
UAE, May 13, 2014 – The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has announced its participation as Strategic Partner for the World Space Risk Forum 2014, which will take place from May 13 to 15, 2014 at Raffles Dubai, UAE. The globally established biennial event, which brings together leading professionals representing all aspects of the aerospace industry, will provide international exposure to the UAE’s space program. The World Space Risk Forum 2014 is a perfect platform for the UAE to build up its profile in the global space industry. The event will be vital in highlighting the country’s space program to an audience representing international space communities and foreign governments.

Omran Sharaf, Director of Image Processing and Analysis Department, EIAST gave a welcome message during the event’s opening ceremony. Moreover, Adnan Al Rais, Head of Office of Products Utilization, EIAST will lead the Focus Group Panel, under the theme ‘Growing Up in Space,’ which takes place on Day 2 of the conference (Wednesday, May 14, 2014) at the World Space Risk Forum 2014. The conference will provide a series of unique insights about successful entry of companies, namely: EIAST, Es’hailSat and SSTL, into the commercial space market, focusing on each company’s approach and lesson learned. The panel also discussed how these companies continue to remain competitive in the increasingly crowded commercial space industry.
The delegates visited the EIAST headquarters, where they were briefed about EIAST projects, including DubaiSat1, recently launched DubaiSat2, and KhalifaSat – 100 per cent Emirati satellite to be launched in 2017. The group also toured the facility, which will offer tremendous prospects to EIAST to build up its clients and suppliers list, including space insurance companies.
Omran Sharaf, Director of Image Processing and Analysis Department, EIAST during the forum.

H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General of the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, said: “Undoubtedly, the World Space Risk Forum is one of the biggest events in the space calendar, which will also be a perfect occasion for EIAST to showcase its facilities as well as technical capabilities in the aerospace industry to the global space experts. The event is perfectly timed as we have recently launched our DubaSat2 and are progressing ahead with the work on KhalifaSat and will leverage the presence of leaders from aerospace sector to strengthen the UAE’s leading position in the space industry. Moreover, our participation in the Focus Group Panel will enable us to enlighten the EIAST’s success model to the forum delegates. Lastly, as the Strategic Partners, we extend our complete support to the World Space Risk Forum for a successful event.”

Laurent Lemaire, organiser of The World Space Risk Forum and Managing Director of DIFC-based Elseco, the largest space underwriting entity worldwide, commented: “We are excited to welcome leaders from the global space industry to Dubai to experience the most important space risk forum in the world. They will find a region that is experiencing significant investment in high technology operations, such as those found at EIAST, our local strategic partner for the World Space Risk Forum. Such investment will make Dubai and the UAE a major player in the future. It is appropriate then that The World Space Risk Forum remains firmly embedded here and continues to grow in importance and significance as the surrounding regional space industry does the same. We thank EIAST for opening its doors to our delegates.”
The World Space Risk Forum brings together 500 top space executives from more than 30 countries. It will address a wide range of issues faced by space ventures, including technical, financial, business, environmental, economic, and regulatory as well as related to software and production. The forum will provide an excellent opportunity for all service providers, insurers, government representatives, brokers, financiers, attorneys and academics to gather and discuss ways of making space a safer place to visit, explore, live and do business. For more information, log on to: http://worldspaceriskforum.com/2014/.
-Ends-
For more information, please visit EIAST website: www.eiast.ae
You can also follow EIAST on:
Twitter: @EIAST
Facebook: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
YouTube: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
For latest news and developments on Khalifa Sat, please follow us on
Instagram:@KhalifaSat_Project
Posted on

EIAST Launches ‘Super Resolution Tool’ that Enhances Resolution & Clarity of Satellite Images

Developer Eng. Saeed Al Mansoori achieves major technological and scientific innovation
   
UAE, May 11, 2014 – The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) revealed that ‘EIAST Super Resolution Tool’  developed by Saeed Al Mansoori, an Emirati engineer involved in EAIST’s center of application and analysis development project, has boosted and enhanced the resolution of satellite images – including those taken by DubaiSat-2 – by 0.75 meters. The innovative tool significantly improves the image details by increasing the number of pixels when zoomed in. This subsequently enhances the degree of contrast and highlights the edges and borders that represent infrastructures, roads, and buildings, among others.

Commenting on the new achievement, H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, EIAST, said: “The ‘Super Resolution Tool’ provides a strategic dimension to EIAST’s numerous achievements which will further bolster the institute’s future successes in the fields of scientific research and technological innovation. This also falls in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We commend Eng. Saeed Al Mansoori for observing the highest level of professionalism and excellence while creating the tool. His success proves that EIAST’s efforts to train Emiratis are now bearing fruit. We show that we are capable of achieving a comprehensive scientific innovation, which is one of the basic pillars of the future.”
Eng. Saeed AL-Mansoori, Associate Image Processing Engineer in the Applications Development and Analysis Center at EIAST

For his part, Al Mansoori said his success was made possible because of the strong support received from the leadership to promote space industry in the emirate. He praised EIAST for encouraging technological creativity and scientific innovation among citizens as key to propelling Dubai into one of the most developed nations in the world.

He added: “The development of the new tool was in response to the growing need of improving the quality of satellite images. Usually, these images have fixed resolutions, and it would be difficult to upgrade these once the satellites have already been launched into the outer space. The ‘Super Resolution Tool’ has saved us from the efforts of designing new complex parts just to improve the quality of the captured images. It has also reduced the costs of satellite production. Moreover, the tool is flexibility as it could also be modified to fit other applications such as radars, surveillance cameras, and various medical fields.”
EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 to encourage scientific innovation and technological progress in Dubai and in the UAE. It also aims to develop the scientific skills and knowledge of Emiratis. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.
-Ends-
For more information, please visit EIAST website: www.eiast.ae
You can also follow EIAST on:
Twitter: @EIAST
Facebook: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
YouTube: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
For latest news and developments on Khalifa Sat, please follow us on
Instagram:@KhalifaSat_Project
Posted on

British Council to Host English Language Training (ELT) Tour Featuring 12 UK Universities on May 8 in Dubai

Globally, one in seven is said to be learning English, and around 750 million people use it regularly
Dubai, UAE, 6th May 2014 – The British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, estimates that globally one in seven peopleis learning English and around 750 million people use it regularly.

These estimates were releasedduring the British Council’s announcement of its English Language Training (ELT) tour which will be held in Park Regis Hotel in Dubai on Thursday May 8. The tour will feature more than 12 UK universities targeting schools and individual candidates.
Marc Jessel, British Council Country Director, said: “Dedicated sessions for schools will take place from 10am to 12 noon and an open session will be held from 5pm to 9pm. The main objective of the tour is to raisethe proficiency of English language among those who need it in their liveson the strength of it being the global language of business, diplomacy, communications, transport, science and IT, among other sectors.”
He added: “We are glad that most of the decision making organisations here value the role ofthe Englishlanguage and facilitate the process of learningit,as they are aware of the connection between studying English and building a skilled workforce.”
Mr. Jessel commented: “Against this background, it is not surprising thatpeople are searching forsuitable English language teachinginstitutions, either for themselves or  their children. We believe this tour will go a long way in addressing their requirements.”
The British Council recommends that learners choose a course conducted by an organisationthat is accredited, in order to ensure highest standards and maximum efficacy of the learning process.
Heexplained: “The aim of this tour is to develop the level in English among people. We offer a variety of courses offline and online. The tour will allow our students explore the exciting learning opportunities British Council offers to improve English Language skills.”
Some of the participants in the tour include University of Leeds, Cavendish School of English, Cambridge Regional College, Kingston College, University of Worcester Language Centre, Alpha Omega College, Harrow College, The University of Sheffield, Guildford College of Further & Higher Education, York Associates, Capital School of English (Bournemouth) and English UK.
“Enhancing English language skills allows our students to tap greater opportunities in life professionally and personally,”Mr. Jessel added.
The British Council contributes to the economic development of businesses in the region through English.As a world authority in the English language,the British Council works across a wide range of English teaching and assessment services, as well as with ministries of education to improve the English language teaching in education institutions around the world.
“The ELT tour demonstrates the British Council’s commitment to supportingthe journey of learning of English in the UAE. We expect a good response to the tour and look forward to fruitful interaction with learners and representatives from learning institutions, and this will contribute to the betterment of learning of English in the UAE,” Mr. Jessel said.
Posted on

EIAST to Showcase Career Prospects in Space Industry at Careers UAE 2014

Institution looking to employ qualified job seekers who want to be part of the Khalifa Sat project
UAE, April 22, 2014 – The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), is participating at Careers UAE 2014, which will be held from April 22 to 24, 2014 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The exhibition offers Emirati engineering graduates suitable job opportunities related to space industry. The participation complements EIAST’s efforts to attract talented Emirati job seekers and enable them to contribute to UAE’s efforts to develop advanced technological innovations. EIAST also provides an opportunity to UAE Nationals to gain expertise in space industry by meeting with world’s top space technology leaders.   

EIAST Director General H.E. Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani explained that the agency gives top priority to Emiratis who have potentials in making it to the country’s space program, which aims to promote UAE’s comprehensive technical and scientific development.  He said Careers UAE 2014 is an ideal platform to directly communicate with graduates and engineers who are willing to join EIAST’s Khalifa Sat project. The project offers promising career and professional prospects aimed at shaping the future of the country.  
“We look forward to recruiting a group of graduates who want to work in Khalifa Sat project, which is of particular importance as it will be the first satellite to be 100 per cent built and manufactured by UAE Nationals. It is EIAST’s third major project,” said H.E. Al Shaibani. 
He added that EIAST is committed to investing in manpower training to boost Emirati skills and knowledge in developing and manufacturing advanced satellites. EIAST’s innovative projects are meant to promote UAE’s competitiveness in the regional and international levels.
“We are keen on developing the competencies of UAE nationals working at EIAST. We provide world-class professional and career development programs, including a special program to cater to first and second year engineering students, and competitive work environment to encourage creativity and innovation among our nationals. These young minds and talents will drive future development and excellence. We provide ongoing support to those students to enable them to complete their higher education in the area of space technology within top universities in the world. This is poised to build a well-qualified generation of scientists and experts who are able to promote UAE’s pivotal position as a leading country in space research, scientific research, and technical innovation. All of these efforts are in line with the vision and directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” Al Shaibani concluded. 
EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 with the goal of promoting a culture of advanced scientific research and technology innovation in Dubai and the UAE, and enhancing technology innovation and scientific skills among UAE Nationals. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.
Posted on

GETEX Spring 2014 Concludes with Flying Colours, Appreciation from Exhibitors & Visitors

Approx. 31,000 people visited the event to gain insights on latest trends in higher education & available university programs 
Dubai, UAE, April 21, 2014 – The 26th edition of the Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX), which was inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, successfully concluded recently, drawing around 31,000 visitors during its three-day run. The event welcomed several eminent guests and dignitaries, including H.E. Humaid Mohammed Al Qutami, UAE Minister of Education; Dr. Saeed Al Hassani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); and H.E. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Bin Yassin, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education.

Exhibitors at the show commended the importance of the event for the education and training sector of the region. They acknowledged the exhibition’s unique platform which allows education services providers to interact with prospective students, and their parents, from the UAE and the wider Middle Eastern region, and inform them about the latest trends within the global education sector. Moving forward, GETEX is scheduled to return in 2015 with an improved format, to offer both exhibitors and visitors even better marketing and promotional benefits.
Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), the organizing company of GETEX, said: “We are extremely delighted to conclude another successful edition of GETEX. This year, we surpassed all expectations and received an overwhelmingly positive response from our exhibitors as well as our visitors at large. The success of the exhibition has once again made us realise the strategic importance of GETEX and its effectiveness in bringing global educational providers on a common platform with potential students. This year’s immensely fruitful event has fuelled our motivation to return next year with improved features and offerings.”  
Commenting on their participation at the show, Stephen Socks, Marketing Manager, Middlesex University Dubai, said: “GETEX is a very critical and indispensable component of our marketing strategy for kicking off our campaign until September. Our participation helps us reach our targets of enrolling potential students into our programmes. The exhibition also provides us with a quality platform to showcase our admissions office and provide students the opportunity to enroll in one of our university programs on the spot.”
“GETEX 2014 is a great opportunity for us to promote our centre under the ‘Education Malaysia’ umbrella and in turn, raise awareness about Malaysia’s rich culture and its top grade education landscape to the rest of the world. Our main objective is to showcase our offerings to the myriad of Arab nationals living here and attract them to study in Malaysia, experiencing a new lifestyle and a great education program”, remarked Marliza Zorakin Malek, Managing Director, My Aspiration.
Mouza Ibrahim Al Dhaheri, Manager of Student Recruitment at United Arab Emirates University, added: “The exhibition was very good in terms of quality visitors and timings during the day, which helped us meet a significant level of potential students, specifically potential post-graduate candidates seeking our programs. The organization of the event was also exceptionally good with the organisers being very cooperative and helping us with whatever we needed.”
“GETEX 2014 has been a very exciting and productive experience for us in helping us showcase our new campus, which is expected to be finished in 2015 and one that will be the largest education institute in the UAE. Throughout the show, we were able to establish contacts with candidates from different countries, such as China, Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria and Tanzania and give them the opportunity to register with our university for the next semester in September,” concluded Mariam Shaikh, Vice President, Student Recruitment & Admissions, Amity University Dubai.
More than 350 educational institutions from India, Australia, USA, Canada, UK, Malaysia, Turkey, Lebanon, Ireland, and other parts of the world showcased over 2,500 academic, training and vocational courses to an approximate 31,000 visitors. The exhibition comprehensively focused on four key segments – General Education, Higher Education, Vocational & Occupational Training, and Professional Development, aligning comprehensively with the region’s booming education sector and the government’s ambitious plans for education reform in the UAE. 
Posted on

DubaiSat-2 Successfully Completes in Orbit Commissioning

Satellite is now fully operational and images are calibrated and validated
UAE, April 14, 2014 – The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has announced that DubaiSat-2’s in orbit commissioning is complete and the satellite is now fully operational.

The satellite had undergone the Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP) starting last November 21, 2013, this phase requires testing for the satellite to verify and validate the operation of the system and subsystem level electronics of the spacecraft and how they function under the harsh space environment.
Once the satellite is in stable operation the next phase is calibration and validation of the telescope and sensors, these tests are the final steps before the satellite can be declared fully operational and they are dedicated to ensuring the quality of the data products derived from the satellite are at their highest in terms of quality and accuracy.
H.E. Yousuf Al Shaibani, Director General, Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, said: “The successful conclusion of the commissioning and in orbit operation of DubaiSat-2 which is the final phase of the project has reaffirmed the UAE’s leading position on the regional aerospace map. All the efforts undertaken by the EIAST and its engineers are aligned with the visionary plans of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai of making the UAE a satellite design and manufacturing hub for the region.
“The calibration and validation activities were conducted to ensure that the images will be useful to our customers and that they are of the highest quality which is crucial for the success of the mission. DubaiSat-2 now being fully operational signals the start of our mission to provide useful and timely data to our customers from the government and private sectors, domestically and internationally and to benefit the nation,” concluded Salem Al Marri, Assistant Director General of Scientific and Technical Affairs, EIAST.
DubaiSat-2 has also passed the tests conducted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently in collaboration with the EIAST, on the satellite’s Propulsion System, in addition to the other examinations ordered to ensure its safety and readiness. In addition, EIAST has signed an agreement with Satrec Initiative for worldwide promotion and distribution of DubaiSat-2’s products and services to global customers.
DubaiSat-2 is an electro-optical earth observation satellite launched with a purpose to provide high-resolution images of the world. DubaiSat-2 is capable of taking multiple images of the same area as well as adept in receiving and processing them from anywhere in the world within a day. The images taken from the satellite will be utilized for various purposes, including environmental projects, urban planning, and infrastructure development as well as providing specialized reports to Government stake holders.
EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 with the goal of promoting a culture of advanced scientific research and technology innovation in Dubai and the UAE, and enhancing technology innovation and scientific skills among UAE Nationals. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development, satellite manufacturing and systems development, space imaging, and ground station services and support for other satellites.
-Ends-
For more information about EIAST, please visit www.eiast.ae.
For latest news and developments on Khalifa Sat, please follow us on:
Instagram:@KhalifaSat_Project
Facebook: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
Twitter: @EIAST
YouTube: Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST)
Posted on

GETEX Spring 2014 Unveils 2500 Educational Programs Serving UAE’s Growing Education Sector

Middle East’s longest running student sourcing show to connect learners with global education providers
UAE, February 11th, 2014 – According to a recent study, the student population in the GCC has experienced a steady growth with a prediction to reach 11.3 million in 2020 from 9.5 million in 2010. Approximately 24 per cent of total government expenditure is spent on the development of the UAE education sector which has an estimated market size of USD 7.3 billion. To throw the spotlight on the surge in the country’s education sector, GETEX Spring 2014 will take place from April 9 to 11, 2014 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, GETEX is the longest running student recruitment event in the region and an effective podium for all education providers to reach out to students with their academic offerings. The 26th edition of the fair will provide a perfect gateway for almost 20,000 Arab and expat students to connect with more than 500 exhibitors from over 40 countries and seek detailed information about over 2,500 featured educational programs from around the world.

Anselm Godinho, Managing Director, International Conferences and Exhibitions (IC&E), said: “While the UAE is fast emerging as a preferred destination for foreign education organizations and investors, the country’s education sector is poised for a significant growth. Through GETEX, we want to reiterate our firm support to promote academic excellence in the country and the region by offering students a wide range of choices in academic programs and campuses. In turn, we hope to address the broader educational requirements of students that will enable them to gain the necessary proficiency to make the right career move. Aside from leading universities and educational institutions highlighting their courses, we have weaved in some new segments into the show, including a Career Advisory Forum, to deliver a more value-added  experience for both visitors and exhibitors.”

Supported by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the Dubai Knowledge Village and the Dubai International Academic City, GETEX is the only education fair in the UAE dedicated to student enollment for schools and universities. GETEX Spring 2014 will focus on key areas of education such as General Education, Higher Education, Vocational Education, and Training and Professional Development, with the intent to deliver a well-rounded approach towards learning.
For a second year, the Counsellors Forum will also be back by popular demand at GETEX, providing a valuable and interactive platform to directly inform students about courses and campuses. It will guide students to choose the most suitable course(s) and educational institution correlating to their career path. Additionally, the Career Advisory Forum is the latest initiative by GETEX that will help students gain insights about the global employment scene and human resource forces impacting multinational companies as well as big corporations. It will also offer vast opportunities for students to network with top employers in the region.  
Spread across an area of 14,000 sq. meters, GETEX will facilitate the interaction between students and education institutes from all over the world including India, Australia, USA, Canada, UK, Malaysia, Turkey, Lebanon and Ireland, among others. For more information, log on to: http://www.mygetex.com/.   
Posted on

EIAST Discusses Economic Impact of Satellite Technologies at Regional Geospatial Conference

Successful Dubai Sat-2 launch presented at Middle East Geospatial Forum 2014
UAE, February 4, 2014 – The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) chaired the session on ‘Earth Observation Systems for Economic Development’ during the 2014 Middle East Geospatial Forum held in Dubai under the theme ‘GeoSmart Government’ and discusses upcoming trends in Earth Observation and how the discipline impacts global users. Eng. Omran Sharaf, Director of Image Processing and Analysis Department, and Eng. Hessa Almatroushi, an Associate Image Processing Engineer at the Institution, were among the session’s key expert speakers.
During the forum, EAIST explained the various social and economic benefits of earth observation satellites. It also recounted the successful launch of Dubai Sat-2, an electro-optical earth observation satellite system, from Russia late last year. EAIST officials explained that such developments are vital to expediting the development of the UAE’s space programs and related manpower.
“Middle East Geospatial Forum 2014 was an ideal platform for emphasizing the relevance of earth observation technologies and discussing the necessary steps needed to further advance the field. It gave EIAST a great opportunity to discuss its own unique and impactful contributions to the expansion of the UAE’s space capabilities through ground-breaking projects such as Dubai Sat-2. We also had the chance to showcase the skills of our team, particularly our Emirati talents who reflect the growing interest among UAE Nationals to participate in space-related development,” said Eng. Omran Sharaf.
EIAST was established by the Dubai Government in 2006 with the goal of promoting a culture of advanced scientific research and technology innovation in Dubai and the UAE, and enhancing technology innovation and scientific skills among UAE Nationals. It is mainly involved in outer space research and development; satellite manufacturing and systems development; space imaging; and ground station services and support for other satellites.