With a large turnout, the UAE Space Agency concluded its participation in the third edition of the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ Forum. Organized by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in cooperation with ADNOC and the Department of Economic Development in Abu Dhabi, the forum took place on May 27 and 28 at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre.
His Excellency Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director-General of UAE Space Agency, said: “Our participation in the forum, which is a vital platform for exchanging ideas and experiences between industry leaders, investors, and decision-makers, comes in line with our commitment to supporting the national economy. It also supports our vision to foster innovation and technology in the space sector and highlight the role of this pioneering sector in creating new investment opportunities. This supports the UAE leadership’s aspirations to achieve a comprehensive development renaissance and promote the UAE as a global hub for industrial innovation.”
“At the UAE Space Agency, we believe that these pioneering events immensely contribute to supporting the national economy, as they offer an attractive environment for startups and SMEs to share experiences and expand strategic partnerships with participants from across the globe.”
“We are committed to launching sustainable programs and initiatives, like the Space Economic Zones Program, which supports achieving a qualitative economic shift in all sectors, including the space sector, over the next fifty years,” Al Qubaisi added.
During its participation, the Agency reviewed its key projects and initiatives in the national space sector and the satellite industry. The agency shed light on the Space Economic Zones Program and its role in attracting companies specializing in space fields and industries for manufacturing in the UAE, the National Space Academy, the execution phase of the “Sirb” project to enhance the satellite manufacturing and operation systems, the Space Data Centre, the Global Navigation Satellite Systems – Augmentation System (GNSSaS), the Emirates Mars Mission (Hope Probe), and the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), as well as recent updates on the 813 satellite project.
The UAE Space Agency’s platform at the forum witnessed a large turnout from representatives of government organizations as well as local and international companies and visitors. It discussed the latest innovations and industrial technologies that enhance local manufacturing capabilities, and provided an opportunity for discussion about the best practices in industry and technology.
On the sidelines of the forum, Al Qubaisi participated in a discussion session entitled “Exploring the Final Frontier: The UAE’s space ambitions as a new investment magnet for future growth”. During the session, Al Qubaisi shed light on the UAE’s potential to nurture global progress in the space industry, and the importance of private sector participation in the success of the national space sector. The session also addressed potential investment opportunities and partnerships in space and other related fields, such as satellite communications and space travel, and the economic impact of such opportunities.
Additionally, the Agency strives to support the strategy of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), which aims to establish the UAE as a global hub for future industries. As a major pillar of this strategy, space industries contribute to sharing experiences and discussing ways to expand strategic partnerships with the forum’s participants locally and internationally.
The UAE Space Agency focuses on a few main strategies to achieve its ambitious goals in space exploration and space technology, and bolster the advancement of the national space sector. This includes investing in advanced space infrastructure by developing and launching satellites, enhancing cooperation with leading global institutions in space by signing partnership agreements and joint projects for knowledge and technology exchange, and developing the skills of Emirati cadres through specialized programs and workshops at the National Space Academy, one of the initiatives of the National Space Fund. The Agency’s participation supports its vision and commitment to promote the sustainability of the national space sector, exchange experiences in this vital sector, highlight advanced solutions, and interact with industry leaders to explore new cooperation opportunities.
