Celebrating 25 Years of the International Charter: Reflections and Commendations
For twenty-five years, the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters (the Charter) has stood as a global model for harnessing space-based capabilities in service of humanity. Since its establishment in 2000, the Charter has embodied a shared commitment to ensuring that satellite data is made available freely, rapidly, and without discrimination, to support countries affected by natural and man-made disasters.
Dr. Naser Al Hammadi, Head of International Relations at the UAE Space Agency, and Board Member of the Charter, said: “For twenty-five years, the Charter has demonstrated how cooperation in space can translate into action on the ground, when lives and communities are at risk.”
Over this quarter century, the Charter has evolved from a technical data-sharing mechanism into a trusted international ecosystem. In the early days of the Charter, disaster risk managers relied on the physical delivery of data from only a handful of satellites. Of course, this data required manual processing that was both time consuming and antiquated by modern standards. Now, the Charter can instantly provide risk managers with hundreds of high-resolution datasets from over 200 different satellites though a cloud-based processing environment: the Charter Mapper. The Charter has modernized not just in terms of data, but also in its communication and partnerships. Today, it brings together space agencies, commercial data providers, remote sensing experts, and humanitarian organisations that operate through coordination, mutual trust, and a shared understanding that timely information can save lives. Across this evolution, the Charter has consistently demonstrated how space technologies can be transformed into operational tools that support disasters management.
A Year of Impact Through International Cooperation
The past two decades offered a powerful reflection of the Charter’s value in action. Communities around the world faced floods, earthquakes, cyclones, and wildfires, each resulting in significant humanitarian consequences. In response, based on more than 1,000 Charter activations, the Charter has been able to provide a rapid and comprehensive picture of affected areas, enabling responders to assess damage, identify priority zones, and guide the deployment of resources and response teams.
This sustained record of disaster response experience reaffirms one of the Charter’s core lessons after 25 years: international cooperation of space assets reduces response time and strengthens decision-making. Even modest gains in timeliness and clarity can significantly reduce losses and help protect lives. Today, international space collaboration and space-based data are foundational components of modern disaster response systems.
Al Hammadi added: “Through the Charter, space agencies have shown that collaboration across borders and institutions can significantly strengthen disaster response efforts worldwide.”
The UAE’s contribution within the Charter ecosystem
Within this global framework, the UAE, through the UAE Space Agency, has positioned itself as an active and committed contributor to the Charter’s mission. The UAE became the seventeenth member of the International Charter in 2018, reflecting its commitment to multilateral cooperation and humanitarian action through space.
Mohsen Al Awadhi, Director of Space Missions at the UAE Space Agency said: “The UAE Space Agency is proud to contribute to the Charter as part of a global effort that places humanitarian response at the heart of space cooperation.”
He added, this commitment was clearly demonstrated during the response to the earthquake that struck the Kingdom of Morocco in 2023. Through the Space Data Analysis Platform, developed under the Space Data Center project and operated in collaboration with Bayanat, the UAE Space Agency produced reports and first look of collapse buildings that were published via the Charter’s official platform. These reports supported damage assessment, informed rescue and relief planning, and enabled continuous monitoring of evolving ground conditions, contributing to the coordinated international response effort.
Al Awadhi further added: “The UAE’s investment in Earth observation satellites such as KhalifaSat (integrated to the Charter), MBZ‑SAT and Arab satellite 813 strengthens our ability to contribute data products that support disaster assessment and recovery. Through our Space Data Center, the UAE transformed satellite imagery into actionable insights. These reports ensured that international responders had access to reliable, high-resolution assessments during critical early hours”.
A shared legacy, a renewed commitment
As the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters marked its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2025, it stands as a testament to the power of collaboration when science, technology, and shared responsibility are aligned in service of humanity. Its legacy is defined not only by data and systems, but by partnerships, trust, and a collective commitment to act when disasters strike.
This milestone offers an opportunity to commend the contributions of all Charter members and partners who have helped build and sustain this unique global mechanism. It also serves as a reminder that, as disasters increase in frequency and complexity, continued cooperation, innovation, and investment in space-based solutions will remain essential.
Eng. Sultan Al Zeidi, Space Project Sponsorship Manager at UAE Space Agency stated: “Over two decades, the Charter has grown into a symbol of scientific disaster relief diplomacy. With over 1,000 activations in 146 countries, it exemplifies how shared knowledge from orbit can protect lives on Earth. The UAE Space Agency remains committed to this legacy, driving regional awareness, capacity building, and operational excellence in satellite disaster response.”
In celebrating 25 years of the Charter, the Charter members reaffirm their commitment to this shared mission, working alongside international partners to ensure that space remains a source of resilience and support, and that knowledge from orbit continues to translate into action on Earth, when it matters most. Looking ahead, continued integration of artificial intelligence, automated analytics, and stronger partnerships with humanitarian networks will further enhance the Charter’s ability to deliver faster, more precise support in an increasingly complex risk landscape.