![An artist's impression of the Thuraya-3 satellite. Thuraya](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GTOAKGROMNNWRLUDE63CK5GLNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=3c020a087543fe0b972d0b38061307b67fcd78e3835d5c44a0a7bcad903c373e&width=400&height=225)
An artist's impression of the Thuraya-3 satellite. Thuraya
An artist's impression of the Thuraya-3 satellite. Thuraya
Staying connected: UAE marks 20 years since it launched Middle East’s first mobile telecoms satellite
Thuraya-1 was launched in 2000 and provided mobile coverage to thousands of people