United Arab Emirates Space Agency
Government Agency
| وكالة الإمارات للفضاء | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | UAESA |
| Formed | 2014; 10 years ago (2014) |
| Type | Space agency |
| Jurisdiction |  |
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Administrator | Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi |
| Website | space |
The UAE Space Agency (UAESA) (Arabic: وكالة الإمارات للفضاء translit: wikālat al-Imārāt l-lifaḍā') is the space agency of the United Arab Emirates government responsible for the development of the country's space industry. It was created in 2014 and is responsible for developing and regulating the space sector in the UAE.
The agency is charged with the growth of the sector through partnerships, academic programmes and investments in R&D, commercial initiatives, and driving space science research and exploration.[1] The law defined that the main headquarters of the Agency are to be in Abu Dhabi and have a branch in Dubai. The Board of Directors may establish branches or other offices within and outside the state.
Mission
Confronting the UAE's national challenges and enhancing the country’s competitiveness through space missions, and a supportive legislative environment.
Vision
A regionally pioneering national space sector that supports the UAE’s competitiveness and stimulates strategic and vital sectors.
History
The United Arab Emirates' interest in astronomy and space sciences dates back to the 1970s when His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan met with the NASA team responsible for the Apollo moon landing. This encounter sparked a national focus on space, eventually leading to the birth of a national space sector with the establishment of Thuraya Communications Company in 1997 and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) in 2007.
In February 2006, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, aiming to promote space science and scientific research in the UAE. In April 2015, it was merged with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.
The UAE Space Agency was established by federal decree in 2014 with the goal of developing the national space sector. The agency is responsible for establishing partnerships, assisting academic programs, advancing national and regional space exploration, and investing in research, development, and commercial space projects.
The UAE uses advanced technology in satellite communications services, with satellites in orbit specializing in various applications: mobile communications, satellite photography, television broadcasting, Internet, communications, radio, and military purposes.
The space sector is one of the strategic areas outlined by the Higher Policy for Science, Technology, and Innovation. It focuses on the exploration of celestial bodies, the development of communication and satellite technology, and the application of the latest space technologies for terrestrial uses.
Budget
The space agency has gathered about $5.2 billion of funding from government, private, and semi-private entities.[2]
Strategic programme
- Attracting Talent and Enhancing R&D:
- Attract quality competencies and enhance productivity in research and development within space programs.
- Enabling Space Services and Applications:
- Promote the space services sector and its applications, encouraging their use to improve government efficiency and private sector competitiveness.
- Creating a Business-Friendly Regulatory Environment:
- Establish a regulatory framework that attracts businesses and increases investment opportunities in the space sector.
- Developing Space Capabilities:
- Develop space capabilities and facilitate the transfer of knowledge from the space sector to other industries.
- Enhancing Space Technology Infrastructure:
- Improve the infrastructure for space technology to enable private sector innovation and competitiveness.
- Governance and Legislative Support:
- Govern the space legislative environment to support a sustainable national economy.
- Building International Partnerships:
- Build a system of international partnerships to facilitate knowledge transfer and enhance the country’s capabilities in science and technology.
