Beyond navigation and weather tracking, the platform will play a key role in environmental monitoring by enabling the detection and analysis of marine pollution, including oil spills.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) in Dubai to collaborate on the development of an integrated platform for maritime and coastal monitoring and observation.
The agreement was signed by H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC and H.E. Nasser Abdulla Al Neyadi, CEO, PCFC at GITEX Global 2025, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Under the MoU, both MBRSC and PCFC will work to facilitate cooperation and exchange of information and data for the development of the platform that will allow for the monitoring and tracking of coastline changes, ship detection and trajectory analysis, and the identification of disruptions to the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The platform will further facilitate continuous observation of sea conditions, wave activity, and weather patterns, with data analytics supporting informed decision-making. Additionally, it will enable surveillance of marine pollution, including the detection and tracking of oil spills, prediction of their movement, and monitoring of ships within affected areas.
Speaking about the MoU, H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC said: “We are pleased to partner with the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation in this strategic initiative, which represents a significant step towards enhancing their capabilities in monitoring the marine and coastal environment. By leveraging space-based data, we aim to strengthen decision-making accuracy and establish a robust monitoring infrastructure that contributes to environmental protection, maritime security, and long-term sustainability.”
H.E. Nasser Abdulla Al Neyadi, CEO, PCFC added: “This MoU marks an important milestone in improving our smart marine monitoring capabilities by utilising the advanced satellite data provided by MBRSC. The development of an integrated monitoring platform will enhance the efficiency of marine and security operations across Dubais ports and support our efforts to protect the marine environment, monitor emissions, and detect oil spills with greater accuracy. This partnership reflects our commitment to adopting the latest space technologies and intelligent data analysis, in line with Dubais vision to be a global hub for marine innovation and sustainability. It also reinforces our strategic direction towards creating a fully digital ecosystem that enables fast, data-driven decision-making and strengthens Dubais leadership in port and free zone management.”
Earlier this year, MBRSC had launched MBZ-SAT, the most advanced satellite in the region, and Etihad-SAT, the Centres first Synthentic Apertur Radar satellite. Together, the two satellites integrate high-resolution optical and radar imaging technologies, forming a comprehensive and sophisticated Earth observation system. They provide high-precision spatial data to support civil, maritime, and infrastructure applications, as well as sustainability initiatives.
