U.A.E. Space Agency (UAESA)

The U.A.E. is committed to establishing itself as a regional hub for civil and commercial space activities, having created the U.A.E. Space Agency (UAESA) in 2014, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in 2015 in Dubai. There is currently an initiative underway by the UAESA and the MBRSC to build an unmanned probe spacecraft that will orbit Mars and study its climate and atmosphere. The intent is to launch this spacecraft in 2020, and have it arrive in Mars orbit by 2021 in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the U.A.E. federation.

The UAESA – which directs U.A.E. national space programs, creates space policy and regulation, and supports the development of U.A.E. engineers and scientists – is expected to generate significant benefits to the country’s economy and human capital. In October 2014, the agency gained membership in the International Space Exploration Coordination Group, making the U.A.E. the first Arab country to join. It also signed collaboration agreements with NASA, Japan, and China, and memoranda of understanding with the U.K., Italy, and Russia. Officials from several departments and agencies of the United States of America and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency met in Washington, D.C., during the week of March 16-20, 2015, to review a broad list of potential areas of space cooperation.

The United States and the United Arab Emirates officials discussed strengthening civil and national security space collaboration. They agreed on developing a strategic approach that would focus on building mutual confidence and understanding of space systems on which both countries rely for economic, environmental, security, and social well-being. Initial discussions focused on space policy and regulatory developments, long term sustainability of space activities, space security, space exploration, bilateral space science cooperation, weather monitoring, the use of satellite-based applications, and exchanges of best practices.

Areas of future conversations and collaboration may focus on important uses of satellite-based data and value-added applications such as: land and sea resource management; space situational awareness; earth observation; climate change research; meteorology; positioning, navigation, and timing; satellite communications; early warning; earth observation; space weather monitoring and opportunities for early discussions on new systems and future space-related missions. Additionally, discussions may explore opportunities for fair and open global trade and commerce for commercial space systems, ground-based capabilities, and managing the space environment to contribute to space flight safety by reducing the risks of collisions and damage by space debris.

Relevant agencies from the United States and United Arab Emirates will consult periodically to continue discussions on current and future space cooperation.

NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations Al Condes hosted representatives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency for the first official meeting between the two agencies at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2015. Representatives from the UAE Space Agency, Emirates Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST), the UAE Embassy, and NASA Headquarters were present. Following the meeting, the UAE delegation also toured Goddard Space Flight Center and met with its Director Christopher Scolese.

The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) space agencies welcomed the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAE Space Agency) as the newest ISECG member on 5 October 2015, in Cologne, Germany. “ISECG welcomes the UAE Space Agency as a new member and we look forward to working with our new colleagues”, said Bernhard Hufenbach of ESA, which currently chairs the ISECG. “The accession of the UAE Space Agency demonstrates the interest of agencies to engage in focused international strategic exchange and coordination, and to build new strategic partnerships for advancing the implementation of the Global Exploration Strategy.”

In May 2015, the UAESA announced its plans to open the Middle East’s first space research center in Al Ain. The $27 million center – funded by the university and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (represented by the ICT Fund) – will be incubator for development and innovation at the federal level. UAESA will also coordinate with a number of organizations on the project, including the Emirates Mobile Observatory. The center will serve university students as well as space operators, and will be open to people from outside the university as well. According to the U.A.E. newspaper “Gulf News”, the center will serve as the main headquarters to support U.A.E.’s unmanned Hope Probe for the 2020 Mars mission. One of the goals for the center is to attract and produce homegrown Emirati men and women space scientists. It is expected that the new facility will create an estimated 150 jobs for Emirati scientists and engineers who will be needed to work on the Mars mission.

In June 2016, NASA and UAESA signed a framework agreement to cooperate on aeronautics research and the exploration and use of airspace and outer space for peaceful purposes. The scope of the agreement covers space science, operational Earth observation and Earth science, aeronautics, space operations and exploration, education, technology, and safety and mission assurance. Under the framework, the agencies also signed an Implementing Arrangement to formalize cooperation in the exploration of Mars. The arrangement establishes a joint steering group to guide discussions about potential future projects that contribute to the exploration of Mars.

Additionally, the two agencies plan to collaborate on education and public outreach programs and joint workshops, with the goal of facilitating the exchange of scientific data, scientists, engineers, and views and experiences on relevant regulatory frameworks and standards. Future areas of collaboration could include the joint use of aircraft; scientific instruments aboard spacecraft; ground-based research facilities; spacecraft and space research platforms; and ground-based antennas for tracking, telemetry, and data acquisition.