Abu Dhabi to host major space conference in December

The Abu Dhabi Space Debate will bring together policy makers, leading engineers and scientists

The Hope probe was built by 150 Emirati engineers, researchers and scientists. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

The first image of Mars taken by the UAE's Hope probe, which arrived at the Red Planet on February 9. EPA

Nora Al Matrooshi the first Arab woman to train as an astronaut. Photo: MBRSC

Hazza Al Mansouri, left, Nora Al Matrooshi, Mohammed Al Mulla and Sultan Al Neyadi together for the first time at Nasa's Johnson Space Centre in Houston. Photo: MBRSC

Sarah al Amiri at the launch of a new project to explore the main asteroid belt, with a Venus fly-by, from 2028. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs / Dubai Media Office

Ministers and VIPs listen as Sarah Al Amiri sets out details of the five-year mission. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs / Dubai Media Office

The final prototype of the UAE's Rashid lunar rover. Photo: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

Emirati engineers test parts of the Rashid rover, which will be sent to the Moon in 2022. Photo: MBRSC

Blue Origin's rocket New Shepard blasts off carrying Star Trek actor William Shatner, 90, on billionaire Jeff Bezos company's second suborbital tourism flight, October 13, 2021. Reuters

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai on a visit to the 72nd International Astronautical Congress at Dubai World Trade Centre on October 25, 2021. Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied, among others, by Emirati astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri, Sultan Al Neyadi and graduates from the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme, Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammed Al Mulla. Wam

The opening ceremony for the International Astronautical Congress took place on October 25 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Abu Dhabi will host a space conference in December that will bring together policy makers, leading engineers and scientists.

President Sheikh Mohamed announced the Abu Dhabi Space Debate conference via Twitter on Wednesday.

He said the UAE is proud to be hosting the event.

“The event is a platform to facilitate dialogue and aims to strengthen co-operation, formulate new international policies and develop solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the global space sector,” he said.

Last year, the International Astronautical Congress ― the world’s largest space conference ― was held in Dubai after the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre won the bid to host it.

It brought more than 5,000 people to the Dubai World Trade Centre, including heads of major space agencies, engineers, scientists, policy makers, commercial companies and educators.

The UAE has made great strides in its space programme in the past few years.

The country’s Hope spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since February last year, it sent its first astronaut to space in 2019 and a second is scheduled to go on the Arab world’s first long-duration space mission next spring.t

Through its accomplishments, the UAE is also getting recognised in global space platforms.

Earlier this year, the UAE was elected to chair the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Omran Sharaf, the Emirati engineer who led the Mars mission, was chosen to lead the committee for the UAE.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Mr Sharaf would be leading UAE's international diplomacy on advanced science and technology.

He was appointed as a member of the UAE Diplomatic and Consular Corps with the rank of ambassador.

He was also appointed as assistant minister of foreign affairs and international co-operation to handle the advanced science and technology portfolio.

As of today, more than 3,100 people are employed across 80 government and private organisations in the space sector in the UAE, double the figure from 2019.

There was also a 226 per cent increase in the number of Emiratis specialising in technical roles between 2017 and 2019.

Dubai hosts the International Astronautical Congress in 2021 - in pictures