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Thales Deploys Its Security Solution At Bahrain International Airport
Thales, a French provider of integrated security and telecommunications solutions, has recently installed its system at the Bahrain International Airport. The system is part of the airport’s expansion, whose goal is to quadruple the size of the existing terminal and increase its capacity to 14 million passengers per year.
The integrated security and telecommunications system is responsible not just for security, safety, and airport operations but also for communication and infrastructure for the Bahrain International Airport terminal building, car parks, and Central Utility Complex, as stated by Thales in the official press release.
“We have ensured that Bahrain International Airport has been equipped with the latest smart and innovative solutions,” said Alain Correia, Managing Director at Thales Bahrain. “This guarantees optimum protection for passengers, staff, and facilities, and meets the demand for enhanced security at the new airport by Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company.”
The French company has been operating in Bahrain for more than 30 years, and it enjoys a strong partnership with many public sector organizations, including the Ministry of Transportation & Communication. As a local technology provider, it contributes to Bahrain’s goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy based around three guiding principles: sustainability, fairness, and competitiveness, as described in the Economic Vision 2030.
“Thales’s strength in innovation and digital technologies perfectly positions the group to become a preferred partner for aerospace, transportation, and public security, the pillars of Bahrain’s smart city ambition,” added Correia.
Also Read: Bahrain Becomes Among The First To Achieve Nationwide 5G Coverage
Digital technology is playing an increasingly important role in airports around the world, and the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has only highlighted its importance. Airports across the United Arab Emirates have adopted thermal cameras to detect symptomatic passengers, and the country’s largest airline, Emirates, has introduced touchless technology to its check-in facilities.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.