By Staff Reporter
Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) have signed a strategic agreement to develop an advanced platform for maritime and coastal monitoring. The partnership was announced during GITEX Global 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by H.E. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of MBRSC, and H.E. Nasser Abdulla Al Neyadi, CEO of PCFC. The initiative aims to harness space-based technologies to enhance environmental protection, maritime security, and operational efficiency along Dubai’s coastline.
Through the collaboration, the two entities will focus on monitoring shoreline changes, tracking vessel movements, analyzing maritime trajectories, and detecting disruptions in the Automatic Identification System. The platform will also enable continuous observation of sea conditions, wave activity, weather patterns, and pollution incidents, including the detection and tracking of oil spills.
H.E. AlMarri underscored the strategic value of the partnership, noting that it will improve decision-making accuracy and build a resilient monitoring infrastructure that supports sustainability and security objectives.
H.E. Al Neyadi highlighted the platform’s operational benefits for Dubai’s ports, including enhanced efficiency, emissions monitoring, and improved oil spill detection. He stressed that the initiative is aligned with Dubai’s vision to become a global leader in marine innovation and sustainable maritime operations.
The project will leverage data from MBRSC’s recent satellite missions, including MBZ-SAT — the region’s most advanced satellite — and Etihad-SAT, the Centre’s first Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite. Together, these satellites provide high-resolution optical and radar imaging, enabling precise Earth observation for civil, maritime, and environmental applications.
By integrating cutting-edge space technology with maritime operations, Dubai aims to strengthen its marine monitoring capabilities, support data-driven decision-making, and reinforce its global leadership in port and free zone management.
Source: Dubai Media Office
