Monday, December 5, 2022 – 7:21 PM
• The UAE has a peaceful space exploration program that has gained recognition from the largest international organizations.
• Imran Sharaf’s chairmanship of the committee highlights the global confidence in the Emirati cadres who were able to reach the leadership of international institutions and organizations.
• The UAE seeks to strengthen the efforts of space diplomacy and science internationally and to encourage fair and peaceful access to space for all countries.
• UAE’s presidency of the committee is of exceptional importance as it is an important stage in the development of space policies.
• The UAE has signed several agreements with leading parties in the space sector to accelerate the development of space technologies globally.
• The UAE’s successive achievements have secured it a seat in the membership of a group of international bodies and agencies related to space affairs.
• The country is proactive in its active participation in international organizations concerned with space and has joined 4 out of 5 major international treaties
• The UAE shares the data of the “Probe of Hope” for free with more than 200 scientific institutions and research centers around the world.
• The UAE mission to explore Venus contributes to the development of advanced technologies and technological innovations that humanity has not known before.
ABU DHABI, 5th December / WAM / The UAE’s presidency of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space “Cobos”, during the period from 2022-2023, which the country won last June, reflects the international community’s confidence in the UAE, its role in supporting the scientific and technological movement, and its ability To lead the whole world towards a more cooperative future in facing the major challenges facing the global space.
This achievement highlights the power of UAE space diplomacy in facilitating the conclusion of international agreements and ensuring adherence to international treaties at a time of geopolitical and geoeconomic blocs and the race to access space by the private sector.
The UAE’s presidency of this committee, which is considered one of the largest committees in the United Nations, and includes 100 countries in its membership, represents a great success for Emirati diplomacy, and an enhancement of its soft power.
This choice carries many sublime meanings, including its space programs receiving a high degree of appreciation from the largest international organizations, and its acquisition of the “peaceful” status, which means serving humanity and its prosperity and advancing the march of space scientific discoveries.
Achievement that embodies appreciation.
During its presidency of the intergovernmental organization, the UAE aims to achieve the goals and projects pursued by the committee, the most important of which is to strengthen the efforts of space diplomacy and science at the global level, encourage fair and peaceful access to space for all countries, and enhance compliance with international legal frameworks and United Nations treaties that govern the safety and sustainability of outer space between Member states, and support the encouragement of knowledge transfer programs between countries, which was confirmed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” by saying, “The election of the son of the Emirates, Eng. Imran Sharaf, Director of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, as Chairman of the United Nations Committee for Peaceful Use For outer space, a new achievement for the state that embodies the world’s appreciation for its programs and contributions in the field of space. We wish him success in leading this committee to implement its goals and projects.
– Global trust.
Imran Sharaf’s presidency of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space “Cobos”, and he is the youngest among his counterparts who chaired the UN Committee, highlights the global confidence in the Emirati cadres who were able to reach the leadership of international institutions and organizations, which was confirmed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” by saying, “I am proud of the UAE’s victory in chairing the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space, which includes 100 countries and guarantees fair and peaceful access to space for these countries. Proud of the son of the Emirates, Imran, the honor of his assumption of this high international position. The youth of the Emirates have brought us to space, lead global files, and run international institutions.”
– exceptional importance.
The UAE seeks to enhance dialogue between countries with advanced and modern space programmes. Therefore, the UAE presidency of the committee during the current period acquires exceptional importance, as it is an important stage in setting space policies, as countries of the world compete in launching large numbers of satellites, and the committee plays a pivotal role in Building policies to ensure the sustainability of space, and the role of the committee will also be pivotal in encouraging the adoption of regulatory frameworks calling for the adoption of responsible behavior.
Agreements and partnerships.
The UAE attaches great importance to strengthening international relations and cooperation in the field of space to accelerate the development of space technologies and the space sector in the country in general. Therefore, the Emirates Space Agency, since its establishment in 2014, has been keen to cooperate with international partners in the fields of space science and peaceful exploration of outer space. The agency has signed a number of Important agreements with leading parties in the international space sector, such as the US Space Agency “NASA”, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency “JAXA”, the Russian Space Agency “Roskosmos” and the Indian Space Agency. These agreements represent important frameworks for mutual cooperation in various fields of research and education. Preparing policies and regulations for the space sector.
International memberships.
The successive achievements of the UAE in the space sector prompted the selection of the UAE Space Agency to obtain membership in a group of international organizations, bodies and international agencies related to space affairs, including membership in the International Committee for Space Exploration (which is the first Arab country to join this global committee), and membership in the Committee of Nations United States for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, membership in the International Astronautical Federation, and membership in the Earth Observing Group, which raises awareness of access to Earth observation data.
International treaties.
The UAE is a pioneer in its active participation in international organizations and forums concerned with outer space, as the country has joined four out of five major international space treaties, namely: The Outer Space Treaty of 1967: It includes the basic legal principles and principles that govern the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon. and other celestial bodies, Liability Convention of 1972: Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects, Registration Convention of 1975: Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space, and Rescue Convention of 1968: Convention on Rescue and return of astronauts and the return of spacecraft launched into outer space.
In October 2020, the UAE joined the Artemis Accord to be among the first countries to sign this agreement, which aims to enhance space cooperation globally. And internationally in this important field, in addition to what distinguishes its national space sector from a transparent legislative structure.
Service to humanity.
The contributions of the Emirati space sector to the scientific progress of humanity are numerous, with giant projects born, and the UAE has gained global confidence for its role in supporting the scientific and technological movement internationally. With scientific partners from around the world to develop satellite design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
In line with its pledge to advance space technology for peaceful uses and to serve humanity, the UAE has shared the data of the “Probe of Hope” that was collected with more than 200 scientific institutions and research centers around the world free of charge, and the probe has provided, since its arrival in the orbit of Mars, unprecedented scientific contributions and information that is the first of its kind around the Red Planet’s atmosphere at different times.
The UAE mission to explore the asteroid belt will also contribute to the development of advanced technologies and technological innovations that humanity has not known before in various sectors, disciplines and space sciences, to achieve this historical scientific leap for human knowledge. The unprecedented scientific space mission will enhance the UAE’s position as an international reference in space science. An open laboratory for its programs, projects and advanced technologies, and a global center for specialized data and information.
International conferences.
Within the framework of the tireless efforts made by the UAE to advance and develop global ties to the space sector, and to continue to enhance the exchange of knowledge and form partnerships with key players in the sector, the UAE hosted a number of international conferences and forums related to the space sector, the most important of which are the activities of the Space Week at Expo 2020 Dubai, and the seventy-second session. From the International Astronautical Conference in Dubai in 2021, and many other regional and international conferences.
In this context; The capital, Abu Dhabi, will host the first edition of the Abu Dhabi Space Dialogue, organized by the Emirates Space Agency, on the 5th and 6th of next December. The space field, and to enhance the UAE’s contribution to international space policies. The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center will also organize the seventeenth edition of the International Conference on Space Operations in March 2023.
– Mill –
Ahmed Al Botli
