RIYADH, Dec 28: The first "Islamic satellite", to be used for crescent sighting, is planned for launching in the first half of 2006.

Talking to Dubai-based Khaleej Times, Dr Omar Al Khateeb, the head of the Research and Fatwa Section in the UAE, said that the satellite would also be used for disseminating correct perceptions of Islam to the world.

The project was proposed by Dar Al Ifta in Egypt in 1997. "The satellite is expected to present a solution to the problem resulting from differences over the lunar months - a fact which prompted Arab and other Muslim countries to support the project," Omar Al Khateeb said.

He added that a committee comprising Arab Islamic scholars, representatives of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Muslim World League, reached an agreement to put to tender the manufacturing of the satellite in January 2005. The tendering would take place in cooperation with the Cairo University's Space Studies Centre (CUSSC).