The UAE National Astronomical Observatory and Telescope project has been approved and authorities are at the phase of putting the specification for the bidding process, the CEO of Dubai Astronomy Group said.

The project will be handed over to the astronomy group as contractors for the first phase do a technical feasibility study, Hassan Al Hariri, CEO of the Dubai Astronomy Group, was quoted as saying by Gulf News in a report.

He said three sites in the mountains above 1,500 metres are being considered.

The national observatory is under final approval by the federal government in Abu Dhabi where the funds will then be approved, said Al Hariri, adding that “in the next 12 months we’ll be well underway.”

Meanwhile, the construction may not begin until the end of 2014, Keith Cobby, also from Dubai Astronomy Group, was quoted in the report.

“The UAE national observatory will be the figure head astronomy facility in the Arabian peninsula. We are hoping that we can nurture collaboration and advice on other observing structures, be it Saudi Arabia, Southern Iraq, or Jordan,” Cobby added.