The race to dominate the skies with Earth observation satellites is accelerating, promising transformative solutions for climate change, disaster response and food security.
As wealthier nations and private companies deploy satellites each year, there are critical questions: who truly controls the planet’s data, and how can it fairly be shared with the world’s most vulnerable communities?
In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, many rural farming communities lack access to satellite data that could help monitor soil health, predict droughts and improve crop yields.
The global Earth observation (EO) market was valued at $7.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $14.1 billion by 2030, according to Indian research company Spherical Insights.
Experts warn that without international frameworks for collaboration, the benefits of EO technology risk falling into the hands of a few powerful players, excluding billions of people.
“Think of it as building a global ‘open library’ of satellite data,” Sahith Reddy Madara, an aerospace engineer and founder of Paris-based advisory firm Bumi and Space, told The National. “Governments can set up international agreements to ensure private companies share a baseline of essential imagery.
“For instance, a consortium that includes the African Union, European Commission and Nasa might negotiate incentives like fast-tracked launch approvals or tax breaks for commercial operators who release certain data sets to the public.”
Role of research institutions
Access to satellite data alone is not enough, however, as communities need the skills and tools to make sense of it. Research institutions help in transforming complex data sets into insights, such as maps, local-language updates and SMS-based warning systems.
In Bangladesh, for example, open-access data sets are used for prediction and to map flood-prone areas, helping communities evacuate before disasters strike. Agencies such as Nasa, the United Nations and local non-profit organisations process raw satellite data into user-friendly flood models and warning systems.
“Raw data alone doesn’t help if you’re a farmer in Zimbabwe or a teacher in Bolivia with limited bandwidth,” said Mr Madara. He recommends the creation of a global fund supported by wealthy nations and philanthropic groups.
“This ensures that a small farmer in Zimbabwe or coastal communities in the Philippines can access vital environmental and disaster information, no matter who owns the satellites,” he said. “Ultimately, it’s a shared effort: policy frameworks that open data gates, local know-how that makes the data useful and financial backing to keep it all running.”
Growing divide
The number of EO satellites in orbit has surged over the past decade, driven by falling launch costs and the production of smaller satellites, such as nanosatellites.
In 2023, 1,192 EO satellites were operational, with dominant players including the US, China and private companies such as Planet Labs and Maxar. These satellites deliver high-resolution imagery critical for applications ranging from monitoring deforestation to assessing disaster damage.
Much of this data, however, remains under the control of wealthier nations and companies. Developing nations often rely on free resources such as Europe’s Copernicus initiative, which provides open-access data from its Sentinel satellites. But this access pales in comparison to the high-resolution, real-time imagery available to those who can afford it.
“We need to encourage the development and dissemination of open-source and openly licensed Earth observation data,” said Dr Sarath Raj, project director of Amity University Dubai’s satellite ground station. “This empowers local researchers, policymakers and communities to utilise data for their specific needs, fostering independent analysis and informed decision-making.”
Regional hubs
Dr Raj said that there was also a need for capacity-building programmes to equip local experts with the skills to collect, process and interpret EO data. This could help reduce dependency on large corporations and help communities develop their own solutions.
“We also need to establish regional data hubs that act as centralised repositories for Earth observation data,” he said. “These hubs can facilitate data sharing, provide technical support and promote collaboration among researchers and institutions across the region.”
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%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Company%C2%A0profile
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
UAE%20SQUAD
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