United Arab Emirates launches space agency

THE United Arab Emirates has revealed plans for its own space agency in a bid ‘to confirm its status as a spacefaring nation’.

Supplied Editorial UAE space agency

THE United Arab Emirates has laid out a strategic framework for a newly created space agency.

The strategy aims to integrate various arms of the Gulf federation’s burgeoning space industry.

UAE Space Agency chairman Khalifa Mohammed Thani al-Rumaithi said the space industry will help diversify the country’s economy and create highly skilled jobs for a growing youth population.

He added that the Emirates “is seeking to confirm its status as a spacefaring nation”.

Our #vision: crafting the future of the UAE as a space leader, and inspire future generations for the benefit of the nation and humankind

— وكالةالإمارات للفضاء (@uaespaceagency) May 25, 2015

"The UAE Space Agency will work to establish a Space Research Center with an AED 100 million investment" @DrAlahbabi #UAESpace

— وكالةالإمارات للفضاء (@uaespaceagency) May 25, 2015

The agency aims to regulate and support the UAE space sector, which includes existing Earth-orbiting satellite programs and plans to send an orbital probe to Mars in 2020.

We look forward to launching the #UAESpaceAgency strategy under the patronage off @HHShkMohd #UAESpace pic.twitter.com/wKxGDtbkDw

— وكالةالإمارات للفضاء (@uaespaceagency) May 25, 2015

The National reported the space agency will choose 20 Emirati students to travel overseas as part of the country’s first academic space program.

Director-general Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi said: “The UAE Space Agency is committed to achieving the vision of the nation and the implementation of it’s ambitious strategy within space.

“The UAE will become a shining star on the global map of the space industry, God willing.”