The UAE Space Agency organized the second meeting of leaders of Arab space agencies and presidents of organizations and authorities in the Arab space sector, to discuss the future of the sector and the means of unifying their efforts to promote the relevant capacities of Arab countries, on the sidelines of the Global Aerospace Summit that started Monday in Abu Dhabi, UAE national news agency WAM reported.
Dr. Ahmad bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Cabinet Member and Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Space Agency, chaired the meeting, which was attended by Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud, President of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Al Amer, Chairman of the National Commission for Space Sciences, Dr. Eng. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, and other specialists.
Al Falasi said that the meeting aims to assess the state and reality of the Arab space sector and its plan to revive the glory of their Arab ancestors, who were leaders in space science. He added that the Arab region has the infrastructure and minds to achieve these objectives while noting that they must consider the importance of cooperation in creating a joint Arab space authority that can compete internationally.
The meeting witnessed a brief presentation on the UAE space sector and its various projects, such as the Hope Probe, Mars 2117, and the Emirates Astronauts Project, which was followed by presentations on several space projects in other Arab countries. It also discussed the joint challenges faced by Arab countries, building the capacities of Arab human resources and exchanging relevant knowledge, along with regional cooperation.
The meeting’s participants also addressed the UAE’s proposed mechanism for future Arab cooperation and coordination, which aims to improve the level of joint Arab work and develop the ongoing cooperation between Arab countries and relevant authorities and institutions, before discussing their future steps and setting the date of the next meeting.
