The UAE and Israel have agreed to work together on two space missions, including Israel’s second attempt at a lunar landing.
An agreement was signed between the UAE Space Agency and the Israel Agency at Expo 2020 Dubai on Wednesday.
As part of the co-operation, the UAE will develop scientific instruments and exchange research for Israel’s Beresheet 2 lunar landing mission.
If you look at the most successful global space programs in history, the common denominator is collaboration
Sarah Al Amiri,
Minister of State for Advanced Technology
“Sharing knowledge and expertise is a key part of the UAE’s vision to create an attractive and competitive national space industry,” said Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency.
“If you look at the most successful global space programmes in history, the common denominator is collaboration.
“Israel has a globally recognised space industry and developing bilateral and multilateral partnerships has never been so important as we embrace a new era of space exploration.”
Israel’s first attempt at a lunar landing in 2019 failed after the spacecraft crash-landed on the surface.
The new spacecraft, which includes an orbiter and two landers, is scheduled for launch in 2024.
The two countries will also co-operate on the Israeli-French Venus environmental satellite, which was launched in 2017.
Vegetation and environmental data gathered by the microsatellite will be shared with the UAE.
Universities in Israel and the UAE will also launch collaborative research projects. They include exploring the red tide phenomenon and analysing red palm weevil infestation, which threatens date palm cultivation.
Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israel’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the agreement represents peace between the two nations.
“Today on behalf of the government of Israel, I am pleased to sign a series of agreements for co-operation with the UAE Space Agency in important and groundbreaking fields,” she said.
“I thank the Minister of Advanced Technologies Sarah Al Amiri for the significant, collaborative work done in the last year between the two agencies.
“Thanks to this work we are already launching advanced initiatives for the benefit of our children's education and joint research.
“I share Minister Al Amiri's vision of harnessing science and space, not only as an economic stimulus but also for bringing hearts together and educating our next generation.”
The two countries normalised relations in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords and have since signed more than 60 major agreements, at government and private sector levels.
The agreements cover industries such as science and technology, artificial intelligence, tourism, logistics, transportation, health care and energy.
Israel’s space programme dates back to 1988, when it launched Ofek-1 using its domestically built Shavit launch vehicle.
The country’s first and only astronaut IIan Ramon died during his first trip to space in 2003. He was one of the seven astronauts aboard Nasa’s space shuttle Columbia that broke apart during re-entry, leaving no survivors.
The UAE is hoping to land its Rashid rover on the lunar surface next year, using a lander built by private Japanese company iSpace. The mission would launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre.
Hazza Al Mansouri became the first Emirati man in space in 2019 when he boarded a Russian Soyuz rocket for an eight-day trip on the International Space Station.
Since then, the country has successfully placed a spacecraft around Mars and has announced an ambitious asteroid belt mission to explore seven space rocks, followed by an asteroid-landing attempt. The mission also includes a Venus fly-by.
UAE astronauts at Expo 2020 Dubai space week: in pictures
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
