Two universities in the UAE introduced a master's programme in space sciences to cater to an increasing number of students interested in pursuing a degree in the field.
The University of Sharjah and the UAE University in Al Ain have, this academic year, welcomed their first batch of students for the course.
Academics said the Middle East's thriving space industry was inspiring young people to follow a career path in disciplines such as space science, engineering and astronomy.
The increasing interest of students for the space sciences is fuelled by the important and inspiring space sciences programme of the UAE
“The increasing interest of students for the space sciences is fuelled by the important and inspiring space sciences programme of the UAE,” said Prof Nouar Tabet, dean of the College of Sciences at the University of Sharjah.
“This is good news because this national initiative is going to generate a huge amount of data that will need to be analysed.”
The university started its master’s programme in astronomy and space science this academic year, with six students registered so far and more expected to join.
It has 95 students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate courses that offer a career in space science, such as applied physics, petroleum geophysics and remote sensing.
A decade ago, only 10 students were enrolled in these programmes. Since then, the university has recorded slow but steady growth.
In 2018, there were 32 students enrolled in applied physics. This year, there are more than 50.
The numbers are still low compared to international figures, but are gradually increasing each year.
"We should not forget that the UAE space programme is very young," said Ilias Fernini, vice general director for research laboratories and scientific projects at the Sharjah Academy of Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology – a centre overseen by the university.
“It just started in 2014 with the creation of the UAE Space Agency. Compared to other international space agencies that date back to the mid-20th century, the UAE has crossed a tremendous step.”
The UAE launched its first Emirati-built satellite KhalifaSat in 2018 and sent the first Emirati astronaut, Maj Hazza Al Mansouri, into space in 2019.
The country launched the Mars Hope probe this summer.
Mr Ilias said he believed the number of students pursuing space-related degrees and universities offering them will increase significantly once the space sector matures.
"The UAE must look into having satellite and space rocket launch capabilities, design and construct robotics for lunar and Martian missions, and apply artificial intelligence and machine learning for space applications," he said.
"This is the future trend and these programmes will attract hundreds of young minds to science, technology, engineering and maths education. The UAE can be a real space hub for the Mena world."
The Sharjah Academy of Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology admits 20 interns from the university every semester to work across its five laboratories, including a meteorite centre, cube satellites, space weather and ionosphere and radio astronomy.
The UAE University is also offering master's degrees in space sciences, with courses such as spacecraft systems, space physics, astronomy and astrophysics, remote sensing of terrestrial and planetary surfaces and digital image processing in remote sensing.
Because of a growing interest among students, a space centre in Al Ain, overseen by the university, will expand many of its projects.
It will soon have a fully equipped satellite assembly, integration and testing centre that can be used by students for practical learning, as well as a radio array observatory, as reported by The National last week.
Students will be able to work on major projects, including the first pan-Arab satellite, known as 813, and two navigation satellites.
It is not only space science degrees that build a career path in space; engineering degrees also help.
Sarah Al Amiri, head of the UAE Space Agency and the Emirates Mars Mission science team leader, graduated from the American University of Sharjah with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in computer engineering.
She started her career at the department of research and development at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, where she worked as a programme engineer on Dubai Sat-1 and Sat-2 – the UAE's first satellites.
Before the UAE Cabinet reshuffle this year, she was the Minister of State for Advanced Sciences.
Many universities in the Emirates offer undergraduate degrees in engineering but only a handful have degrees in aerospace engineering.
Amity University Dubai started its four-year aerospace engineering programme in 2015 with more than 15 students.
“After the programme launched, we had a growth of over 50 per cent every academic year,” said Dr Vajahat Hussain, chief executive of Amity Education Middle East.
"We have over 50 students currently studying aerospace engineering at Amity University Dubai and have seen two batches of aerospace engineering students graduate.
"We have also seen a 30 per cent increase in student numbers over the past two years.”
The university has a ground control station where students can track satellites and predict weather patterns and pollution levels by analysing data.
An aerospace engineering graduate from the university, Sahith Reddy Madara, works at the Sharjah Academy of Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology as a research engineer, and several other former students work internationally in space-related fields.
"As an emerging area of study, the field of space science and interest around the profession has increased over the past two years," said Dr Hussain.
"The region’s investment in space research and development is the main motivating factor for students who have enrolled in our aerospace engineering programme."
Other universities that offer space science, maths or engineering degrees in the UAE are Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi and the American University of Ras Al Khaimah.
The Case For Trump
By Victor Davis Hanson
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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Dust storm
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- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
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The Light of the Moon
Director: Jessica M Thompson
Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David
Three stars
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
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How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
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Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Match info:
Real Betis v Sevilla, 10.45pm (UAE)
The Bio
Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees (oats with chicken) is one of them
Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.
Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results
During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks
Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy
Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it
RESULT
Valencia 3
Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'
Ferran Torres 67'
Atlanta 4
Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Checks continue
A High Court judge issued an interim order on Friday suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports.
Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review of the minister's unilateral action this week to order a halt to port checks that are required under the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Civil servants have yet to implement the instruction, pending legal clarity on their obligations, and checks are continuing.
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UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
Monday Feb 25, 1pm, v Kuwait
Tuesday Feb 26, 9.30am, v Saudi
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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