- The second edition of ADSD welcomed more than 1,000 attendees from 53 countries
- H.E Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, called for global collaboration to secure the future of space
- MoU agreement between the UAE Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA) to foster partnership in peaceful space exploration
- Workshops focused on the balance between national security, responsible space practices and addressing space debris
- Panels and keynote sessions discussed strategies to increase international collaboration, enable emerging markets and mitigate the overuse of space
- Outcomes of the youth trial court encouraged the next generation of leaders to set the future of space advancements
- On the sidelines of the ADSD, The UAE Space Agency organized a joint UAE-Japan Workshop and an industry workshop in collaboration with The U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Mission to the U.A.E., and U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council.
The second edition of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate (ADSD) concluded after two days of discussions and collaborations between industry experts to address the most pressing challenges and explore opportunities for the future of space. Over 1,000 policymakers, government representatives, industry, academia, and emerging space players from the public and private sectors attended the ADSD, and deliberated on sustainability, security, and accessibility—key challenges facing the space sector and future generations.
The debate was attended by representatives of government space agencies and delegates from 53 countries, including The United States, Singapore, and Italy and featured 20 prominent speakers including Dr. Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency; Brian Cox, CERN Physicist; Hervé Derrey, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space; Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of UNOOSA; Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency; Chris Whitehorn, CEO of the UK Space Agency; Jonathan Hung, Executive Director, Office for Space Technology and Industry, Singapore (OSTIn); and Tim Marshall, Foreign Affairs and Geopolitics Writer.
From the UAE, prominent attendees included H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, and H.E. Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency; H.E. Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); H.E. Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General, Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC); and H.E. Dr. Eng. Mohammed Nasser Alahbabi, Senior Advisor, Space and Cyber Technologies, EDGE.
The two-day event featured a closed-door roundtable with leading industry figures, and dynamic workshops focused on topics such as security, sustainability, and accessibility to space led by renowned academics, including Dr. Everett Doman, Visiting Professor of Space Strategy, John Hopkins SAIS; Simonetta Di Pippo, Director of Science, University College London; and Neil Morisetti, Vice Dean of Public Policy at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of London.
The main themes of discussion at ADSD revolved around the critical issues facing space exploration, governance, and sustainability, with a strong focus on global collaboration, responsible practices, and the evolving role of space technologies.
Key themes included:
- E Excellency Salem Al Qubaisi highlighted the importance of international collaboration in safeguarding global security through space technologies, emphasizing that the challenges we face in space require collective efforts while balancing national interests.
- The urgent need for effective removal of space debris was impressed upon by Dr. Josef Aschbacher, who discussed the importance of deorbiting to ensure sustainable space practices.
- Discussions also covered space as a shared resource, highlighting how space must be accessible for the benefit of all humanity. Teodoro Valente and H.E Omran Al Sharaf both shared thoughts on the constant evolution of space applications and stressed that the notion of space as a shared resource can only be achieved if space treaties, regulations and frameworks evolve to address new challenges.
- Space governance and national security were core topics for panels as leaders discussed free access to space and national security. H.E. Dr. Eng. Mohammed Nasser Alahbabi stressed the importance of enhanced space situational awareness to mitigate and ensure the safety and security of space activities.
- E. Salem Humaid AlMarri emphasised on the important role of the UAE in supporting emerging markets to contribute to the global space dialogue. He highlighted the nation’s commitment to fostering international partnerships and developing core space capabilities, exemplified by the upcoming launch of MBZ-SAT, the most advanced satellite in the region built in the UAE.
H.E. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, said: “At the conclusion of the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate (ADSD), it is clear that there is a global understanding and desire for collaboration so all nations benefit from the opportunities in space. This edition of the ADSD continued to highlight the need for meaningful discussions to reach actionable commitments. While challenges such as space debris and regulations took center stage, it is clear that the group of leaders present this week are dedicated to working together to ensure space equity for future generations.”
Fatima Al Shamsi, Acting Director, Space Policies and International Relations Department at the UAE Space Agency, said: “Following an intense but crucial two days of discussions, deliberations and workshops, the outlooks and insights made by global space leaders are inspiring. It is evident that the current and future leaders in space are dedicated to making significant progress towards building an equitable space economy that benefits all. We are confident that this platform will continue to play a pivotal role in future dialogues and result in more commitments and actions in the near future.
In parallel, ADSD hosted a Youth Trial Court, aimed at inspiring the next generation of young leaders to pursue careers in space-related fields and to set the future of space advancements.
On the sidelines of the ADSD, the UAE Space Agency, in collaboration with The U.A.E. Embassy in Washington, D.C., The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Mission to the U.A.E., and U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted an industry workshop with over 70 executives from leading U.S. and U.A.E. companies, along with high-ranking government and academic leaders, to foster dialogue around the future of space collaboration.
In addition, the UAE Space Agency organized a dedicated UAE-Japan joint workshop which was attended by H.E Shihab Al Faheem, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UAE to Japan, H.E. Ken Okaniwa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the UAE; Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); and Mr. Hideyuki Urata, Deputy Director General, Manufacturing Industries Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The workshop brought together more than 50 industry experts and government officials from the UAE and Japan
The second edition of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate took place on December 10–11, 2024. This year’s edition was supported by key sponsors, including EDGE Group; one of the world's leading advanced technology and defense; Thales, world leading defense, digital identity, security, aerospace, and space group; Viasat for satellite communication and network technologies; VAST, commercial space station developer; BlackSky, the leading company in real-time space-based intelligence; Planet Labs, a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions; and the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
The next edition of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate will take place in 2026.