The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will launch its first earth-observation satellite this month (July) with the aim of aiding numerous development goals. EIAST plans to use the satellite to boost research in four areas: fog forecasting, sandstorm prediction, monitoring water in the Gulf and improving the clarity of received satellite pictures. It also hopes that DubaiSat-1 will help detect and monitor pollution such as oil spills (Lifted from SciDev Net).
http://www.scidev.net/en/news/uae-anticipates-lift-off-for-first-satellite-2.html
