The UAE has launched a landmark AED1 billion International Space Cooperation Programme aimed at cementing the country's position as a global leader in space research, technology and industry.
The initiative was announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, who chaired the council's latest meeting and directed the programme's launch.
The programme is designed to localise advanced space technologies, empower national talent and connect UAE research institutions with global counterparts through partnerships built on innovation and knowledge exchange. It also prioritises patent development, technology transfer and the cultivation of specialised expertise in high-growth space sectors.
Sheikh Hamdan described the space sector as a strategic pillar of the UAE's knowledge and innovation-based economy, noting that the programme directly supports the goals of the National Space Strategy 2031. That strategy, launched by Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, targets a 60% increase in the sector's added value and aims to double the returns of the national space economy.
The meeting also featured an update on the UAE's involvement in NASA's Artemis programme, with officials from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre outlining the country's contributions to building infrastructure for a sustained human presence on the moon.
Dr. Hamdullah Mohib, CEO of Orbitworks, presented the company's vision for a sovereign satellite constellation built and operated within the UAE, positioning the nation to lead in AI-enabled space intelligence.
The announcement comes as the global space economy reached approximately $613 billion in 2024 and is projected to approach $780 billion by 2033, a trajectory the UAE is strategically positioning itself to capitalise on.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
