The UAE is celebrating 20 years since it launched the Middle East’s first mobile telecoms satellite.
Thuraya-1 lifted off on October 21, 2000, and provided mobile coverage to more than 250,000 customers in the region and parts of Europe and Africa.
It was a project by mobile satellite company Thuraya and Boeing developed it. Etisalat, the UAE's state-owned communications company, became Thuraya’s first service provider in 1998.
Communication was a major challenge back then and many people were not covered.
One year after the launch, Thuraya released its first satellite phone, called Thuraya Hughes 7100, which featured GSM (global system for mobile communications) modes, GPS (global positioning system) navigation, voice, data, fax and text message services.
Thuraya-2 was launched in 2003 and helped to expand coverage in the region.
Now, satellite phones by Thuraya are commonly used by humanitarian workers, journalists and people in remote areas.
The company became a subsidiary of Al Yah Satellite Communications, or Yahsat, in 2018.
The UAE’s commercial satellite industry has grown rapidly in the years since the historic launch of Thuraya-1.
According to the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the country operates nine satellites through three operations – Thuraya, YahSat and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
The satellites are placed in geostationary and low Earth orbit, covering and providing services in more than 140 countries.
The satellites provide mobile satellite, broadcasting and fixed satellite services.
In August, YahSat announced it would invest $500 million to build the next generation mobile telecoms system, which will go live in 2024. It partnered with Airbus to develop the Thuraya-4.
Saudi Arabia launched the first Arab satellite, Arabsat-1A, in 1985. It was a communications satellite and provided TV, radio, mobile and broadband internet services.
Egypt launched its Nilesat 101 communications satellite in 1998.
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UAE launches Arab world's first mission to Mars – in pictures
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The Hope probe launches from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre on July 20. AFP -
It will take the spacecraft, which later detached from the rocket, about 200 days to reach the Red Planet, arriving in February 2021. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries -
The launch of the rocket is captured on video at Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries -
The first homegrown Arab space mission drew in interest from across the globe. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries -
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries -
Waiting for the launch in the morning light. MHI Launch Services twitter -
Emirati journalists clap as they watch the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP -
A broadcasting of the launch of the Hope Mars probe at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP -
An Emirati man wipes a tear away with his face mask while watching the launch of the Hope space probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP -
Mohammed Al Mannaee, an announcer with Dubai TV, reacts as he watches the launch. AP -
Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre -
The UAE team watch the launch of the Mars Hope probe at at the Tanegashima Space Centre. -
Sarah Al Ameeri and the UAE team watch the launch at at the Tanegashima Space Centre -
A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP -
Solid rocket booster (SRB-A) was separated after burnout during the launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, are recorded by cameras onboard the rocket after the lauch from Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS -
A screen broadcasts the launch of the Mars probe at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AFP -
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: MHI Launch Services -
Omran Sharaf, the project director for the Hope space probe, speaks on his mobile phone at Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. AP -
Sarah Al Ameeri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences of United Arab Emirates, celebrates with Naohiko Abe, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Senior Vice President, Head of Integrated Defence and Space Systems, after the successful launch of the H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Mars explore, at Tanegashima Space Center on the island of Tanegashima, Japan. REUTERS -
Emiratis are pictured at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai ahead of the expected launch of the "Hope" Mars probe from Japan. AFP -
The weather was clear over Tanegashima Island in southern Japan on Sunday after weeks of rain and cloudy conditions. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office -
Emirati engineers wave in a picture taken on Sunday from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Courtesy: Emirates Mars Mission / UAE Space Agency -
The launch of the rocket from Japan's Tanegashima Space Centre. Screengrab courtesy MHI Launch Services
