Saudi Arabia launches Saudi Sat 5A, Saudi Sat 5B

Saudi Arabia launched on Friday Saudi Sat 5A and Saudi Sat 5B satellites from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch, a government statement said.

This achievement comes as part of Vision 2030’s objectives, and is part of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) efforts to localize satellite technologies, KACST’s president Prince Turki bin Saud said.

The two satellites were developed and manufactured at KACST’s national factories and by national hands. They will be managed and operated from an advanced control station located at the KACST’s headquarters.

Saudi Sat 5A and Saudi Sat 5B will be used to provide government agencies with high-resolution satellite images similar to those in developed countries for use in various fields of development.

Prince Turki also said that while the Kingdom owns these two satellites, it plans to commercially build a number of satellites in partnership with foreign agencies.

The satellite industry can generate income to the Kingdom, as in the future it will manufacture satellites for other countries, as other countries once did for Saudi Arabia, he said.

"The Kingdom finds in these technologies an area for global competition, and I think we can compete and provide global services through this industry," he added.