From 13 to 15 November
The UAE, represented by the UAE Space Agency and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, participated in the Space Pavilion at the seventh edition of the Bahrain International Airshow 2024, which was held from 13 to 15 November. This supports the Agency’s efforts to bolster international cooperation and partnerships, and highlight the UAE’s achievements.
His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, said, “Our participation in the Bahrain International Airshow reflects the UAE’s commitment to enhance its active presence in the Arab and international space scene, and demonstrates our commitment to expanding cooperation with our partners globally. It also reinforces our role as an influential force in the space industry, regionally and globally, by communicating with leaders of the global space sector, and developing strategic partnerships that enable us to share expertise and build an integrated system that contributes to the responsible use of outer space. This supports our vision to build a sustainable economy based on innovation and knowledge.”
His Excellency Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director-General of UAE Space Agency, said, “The UAE Space Agency is keen on participating in regional and global exhibitions and events, to communicate with professionals and experts, and exchange ideas about the latest developments and innovations in space. This supports our efforts to build an advanced and sustainable national space system that keeps pace with global changes and contributes to achieving the UAE’s strategic goals.” Al Qubaisi added, “We believe that our participation in such events opens new horizons for cooperation and exchange of expertise. It also introduces our local capabilities and capacities in this vital sector, the facilities we provide to space startups through the Space Economic Zones Program, and the opportunities available in many ambitious projects and missions in the UAE.”
His Excellency Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director-General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said, “The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre's participation in the Bahrain International Airshow within the UAE Pavilion presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen cooperation and exchange expertise with international partners in the space sector. We take pride in representing the UAE and showcasing our achievements in space exploration and advanced technology. This exhibition serves as an ideal platform to demonstrate our contributions to the global space endeavour, reflecting our ongoing commitment to fostering innovation and developing space projects. This aligns with our wise leadership's vision of establishing the UAE as a global centre of excellence in this field. Through our participation, we aim to broaden our collaborative network with international partners and research institutions, facilitating knowledge and expertise exchange, which contributes to supporting our journey towards developing cutting-edge technologies that benefit humanity and promote sustainability in the space sector.”
As part of the Space Pavilion at the exhibition, the UAE’s platform showcased various national projects and initiatives in this vital sector. This included the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), the Space Data Center, and Sirb, in addition to highlighting the Space Pavilion at the upcoming Dubai Airshow, and the second Abu Dhabi Space Debate, scheduled to be held in December 2024.
During its participation in the Bahrain International Airshow, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre showcased the latest updates in the UAE’s National Space Programme and its most notable achievements in space exploration, including the UAE Astronaut Programme and the Emirates Lunar Mission. The Centre also announced future missions and provided updates on ongoing projects, such as the Emirates Airlock, which is part of the Gateway lunar space station, and MBZ-SAT, the most advanced satellite in the region. Furthermore, the Centre aims to bolster international cooperation in space exploration by signing memoranda of understanding with regional and international partners, reinforcing the UAE's global leadership in this vital field.
Hamda Al Hosani, Space Policies and Legislation Specialist at the UAE Space Agency, participated alongside Shaikha Hesa bint Ali Al Khalifa, Senior Legal Researcher at the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), and Dr. Marlène M. Losier, Principal, Legal Expert in international law, in a panel discussion titled “Space Laws as a tool to set proper space framework nationally and internationally.” The session was moderated by Rosanna Margarita Hoffmann, Associate Legal Officer (Space Law), United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
The session explored the comprehensive aspects of space laws and their role in ensuring responsible and sustainable space activities, the challenges faced in maintaining a successful space industry within their respective countries or regions, the strategies being implemented to address these challenges, and the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in establishing a unified framework for space governance.
A series of bilateral meetings were held between representatives of the UAE space sector and their counterparts from global space agencies and companies, to strengthen partnerships and exchange expertise in space exploration and advanced technology. HE Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, met with HE Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to discuss ways to strengthen space cooperation between the two countries, especially in light of the ongoing collaboration since the establishment of the National Space Science Agency in Bahrain, with a particular focus on the collaborative LightSat-1 project and developments in space data analysis.
Additionally, the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre signed two cooperation agreements with the National Space Science Agency of Bahrain regarding collaboration in the field of environmental data and the Rashid 3 Explorer project. This project, one of the centre's flagship initiatives, focuses on studying new locations on the Moon’s surface, including conducting tests to analyze lunar soil.