China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) achieved a new milestone in their space partnership on December 10, 2025, as Arab Satellite 813 was successfully launched into orbit aboard China's Lijian-1 Y11 rocket. The launch marks a historic step in space cooperation between the two countries.

Lijian-1's developer, CAS Space – a commercial spaceflight company established by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) – has now served a total of 32 satellite customers, including 26 domestic and six international clients.

Led by the UAE, Arab Satellite 813 is the first joint space project among Arab countries, allowing Arab scientists and researchers to actively contribute to the development of space technology.

The mission represents a major achievement in space cooperation between China and the UAE, paving the way for even deeper collaboration in the future, said the Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites (SECM), a key Chinese partner in the project.

In 2023, the UAE's National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) signed a cooperation agreement with SECM. After two years of collaboration, they developed a high-performance hyperspectral satellite with optimized weight, volume and capabilities.

Its primary payloads include a hyperspectral imager and an atmospheric polarimeter. The satellite will use advanced hyperspectral observation technology to provide high-precision data for environmental monitoring, resource exploration and scientific research.

Over 40 engineers from the United Arab Emirates University, along with other Arab researchers, participated in the satellite's development, gaining hands-on experience in aerospace system design, research and development, and testing. Students and researchers will also use the satellite's data for scientific studies addressing societal needs.