Page 13 - SAMENA Trends - October 2019

UAE LEADS ON IN 5G, AI, IT, AND SPACE SAMENA TRENDS

UAE Unveils National Space Strategy 2030

the various elements that fall under its
umbrella, including science, technology,
applications and services. It also covers
all the governmental, commercial and
scientific activities of various space sector
organizations, collaborating with other
governmental entities, as well as academic
institutions and space research and
development centers.” “The investment
plan seeks to increase the national
space sector’s contribution to economic
diversification and attract foreign
investment in the national space sector.
Moreover, it aims to transform the UAE into
the go-to destination for investors wishing
to participate in the space sector,” added Dr.
Al Ahbabi. “These documents represent the
fruits of the continuous and extraordinary
efforts of our exceptional team at the UAE
Space Agency. The team has reviewed
years of achievements and studied all
aspects of the space sector, discovering its
UAE Space Agency (UAESA) has announced effective local and global partnerships strengths, capabilities and opportunities in
the details of its National Space Strategy and investments in the space industry; order to build upon the incredible success
2030 and National Space Investment Plan, and developing a future-proof supportive we have experienced since our founding
which complement the regulatory and legislative environment and infrastructure five years ago,” he concluded. Nasser
legislative framework of the UAE’s national across the sector. These goals will be Al Rashidi, director of Space Policy &
space sector. During the ceremony held in achieved through the implementation of Regulations at the UAE Space Agency
Abu Dhabi, the UAE Space Agency shared more than 20 comprehensive programs said: “The National Space Strategy aims
details of its National Space Strategy, and 80 initiatives. Moreover, the event to ensure the industry’s sustainable
which was approved by the Cabinet of the also marked the announcement of the growth over the next decade and beyond.
UAE, chaired by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin National Space Investment Plan, which Thus, it was developed following a series
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and seeks to realize the goals of UAE Vision of national and international economic
Prime Minister of the UAE, and the ruler 2021 and UAE Centennial 2071, which and technical studies. The strategy also
of Dubai. The strategy aims to enhance collectively aim to make the UAE the includes programs and initiatives that
the space sector’s contribution to the world’s leading country in economic, seek to consolidate, develop and sustain
national economy and promote the UAE’s social, and environmental fields. The plan the integrated structure of the national
regional and international presence in the is in line with the Higher Policy for Science, space sector, thereby supporting its
space sector. It also strives to support the Technology, Innovation and the strategy journey towards global competitiveness.”
transition to a knowledge-based economy, for the UAE’s Fourth Industrial Revolution “Through the Space Investment Plan, the
create an effective regulatory environment, (4IR). In addition, the plan aims to make UAE Space Agency is working to devise
attract talent and develop human capacity, the UAE a major regional and global hub for the activities, mechanisms, and tools
stimulate creativity among young people, space activities by building a competitive necessary to stimulate entrepreneurship
as well as develop partnerships with national economy based on knowledge, and attract more local and international
industrial, educational, and research innovation, and future applications that investment to the space sector. “In the
institutions while increasing international integrate the latest physical, digital, and next stage, the Agency will supervise
collaboration. The National Space Strategy biological technologies; attracting small the implementation of eight activities
aims to realize six main goals, which and medium-sized businesses through identified by the plan through coordination,
include providing competitive and world- promoting investment in the space collaborations, and partnerships with key
class space services; enhancing advanced industry; and facilitating the work of the players in the space industry on a local and
local capacity in space science, research companies in the industry. Dr. Mohamed international level, including those in the
and developing and manufacturing space Nasser Al Ahbabi, director general of the government, private, academic, or research
technology; launching inspiring space UAE Space Agency, said: “This strategy and development sectors, as investments
missions; establishing high-level national aims to support the realization of the in these sectors complement one another,”
expertise in the space sector; forging UAE’s vision in the space sector with concluded Al Rashidi.

13 OCTOBER 2019