In pictures: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid welcomes KhalifaSat engineering team to palace

The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai received the guests together with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

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  Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team at Al Zabeel Palace. Seen with them are Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed speak with the KhalifaSat engineering team. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  From left: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, National Security Advisor, attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  From left: Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed , Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  From left: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid receive the KhalifaSat engineering team at Al Zabeel Palace. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  From left: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Mohammed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

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  Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, attend a reception for the KhalifaSat engineering team. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid greeted the engineering team behind the successful launch of KhalifaSat at Zabeel Palace on Saturday.

The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated the squad together with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The two leaders described the launch of the satellite on Monday as "a source of pride for their leadership, people, families and the Arab nation".

KhalifaSat was the first satellite designed, tested and manufactured entirely by Emirati engineers.

It was launched from Tanegashima island, some 40km south of the Japanese mainland, by a team from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.