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IMAGES ARE AN OUTSTANDING EVIDENCE ON RAPID DEVELOPMENT 
“A PERFECT EXAMPLE FROM UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)” 
Colonel Mahesh S. Alhameli * and Major Ali M. Alshehhi " 
* Director, Space Reconnaissance Centre, UAE Air Force & Air Defense, PO Box 51025, Abu Dhabi UAE — 
falcongs(@emirates.net.ae 
? Manager, Space Reconnaissance Centre, UAE Air Force & Air Defense, PO Box 51025, Abu Dhabi, UAE — 
alishehhi(zfalconugs.ae 
  
  
Commission PS IC, WG 11/4 
KEYWORDS: Developing Countries, Space, Urban, Education, Building, International 
ABSTRACT: 
Before 1960's, UAE was a poor developing country, and almost there were no real signs of civilization. During the 1970s two 
important things happened: H. H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the president of UAE, and the other Emirates rulers get 
together and established the United Arab Emirates and considerable oil findings were discovered. The UAE Leadership has proved 
to have deep future vision; in three decades the country jumped from a negligible relatively backward scattered emirates to a well 
developed and civilized country. 
Development is very obvious; from tents and sandy tracks to tower buildings and highways, from desert to green belts of palm trees 
and vegetables in all parts of the country, and most important, education, healthcare and all other services became the best in the 
region. Urban development was so sharp; someone who left the place 10 years age can hardly knew his location and services in all 
sectors became the best on the international level. The oil money was properly invested in development. 
UAE Air Force Space Reconnaissance, used satellite and aerial images for the past 20 years and successfully utilized images from 
various sources including aerial photographs, Russian satellites images, SPOT and Landsat images and recently, in late 2000, 
established a National Ground Station with direct reception of IKONOS, IRS and KOMPSAT satellites imagery data and with 
nationals controlling all stages of data reception, processing, analysis and production. 
The attached images are an obvious outstanding proof on the rapid development which has been achieved in the past few decades in 
all life aspects, which in the mean time reflects how wise the leadership is and size of efforts and plans which have been steadily put 
in action in the benefit of the people and their future. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
1.1 Motivation & Aim 
Being in a satellite receiving station and continuously acquiring 
images of UAE and surrounding countries and because UAE is 
undergoing extensive development for the past three decades, 
we decided to express this development revolution by using 
different kinds of imagery, as a proof on rapid development. 
This will hopefully enhance the application of high-resolution 
imagery, in particular, in planning, mapping and research 
purposes. 
1.2 Location and general information 
UAE is located in SW Asia, east of Saudi Arabia, with about 
600 km of coastline of the Arabian Gulf (figure 1) and on the 
east it has 100 km coastline on the Indian Ocean. UAE area is 
about 83,000 Sq. Km and population is ~3.75 millions; 2002 
census. 
The sand and gravel desert dominates most of the country, with 
steep mountains in the north and northeastern parts. Apart from 
Alain city, all major cities lie on the coast including Abu Dhabi, 
the capital of UAE. 
The weather is warm and sunny in winter, and hot & humid in 
summer. UAE’s confirmed oil reserves is 97.8 billion barrels; ~ 
9% worldwide, with yearly revenues $ US15-20 billions/year. 
1. 3 Summary of recent UAE history 
In 1966 H.H. Sheikh Zayed Ben Sultan Al Nahyan, the present 
president was chosen as ruler of Abu Dhabi and later in 1971, 
H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, along with HH 
Sheikh Rashid Almaktoum and other Emirates rulers get 
together and initiated the Federation of the seven Emirates, 
hence United Arab Emirates was established; Seven Emirates 
One Nation. A new era of development started. 
Some development started in the late 1960's but was 
remarkable in the mid-1970's with more oil discoveries and 
prices jump, attracting 100,000's of workers and technicians 
from many parts of the world who shared in the development. 
2. UAE DEVELOPMENT FACTS 
The rapid development of UAE's towns and villages from 
small oasis in the 1950's to large modern and fully functional 
cities required a heavy investment in infrastructure. Roads, 
airports, seaports, housing, sewage, electricity, water and 
telecommunications networks have all been developed to meet 
the demands of a high-tech society (UAE Yearbook, 2003). 
Tens of billions of $US have already been invested in 
infrastructure at both federal and emirate levels. In housing, 
1000's of villas, low income houses and land parcels have been 
granted to nationals, residential complexes that have a high 
standard services. Agriculture development is very obvious, 
with an area of 270942 hectares incorporating more than 40