Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai after Hope probe's successful orbit entry on February 9. The National
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai after Hope probe's successful orbit entry on February 9. The National
A man celebrates at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A man celebrates at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A guest attending the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A guest attending the Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Burj Park was set up for people to watch the Hope probe attempt its Mars orbit insertion. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter
Burj Park was set up for people to watch the Hope probe attempt its Mars orbit insertion. Courtesy: UAE Government Twitter
UAE Mars Mission engineer, Hessa Al Matroushi, was interviewed at a Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
UAE Mars Mission engineer, Hessa Al Matroushi, was interviewed at a Burj Park event to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Engineer Hessa Al Matroushi attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Engineer Hessa Al Matroushi attended the event at Burj Park to mark the arrival of the Hope probe to Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
TV crews get ready at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
TV crews get ready at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An event at Dubai's Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An event at Dubai's Burj Park to celebrate the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests and media arrive at an event at Burj Park to witness Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests and media arrive at an event at Burj Park to witness Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Guests arrive at an event at Burj Park to mark the Hope probe's Mars orbit insertion attempt. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Burj Khalifa lights up at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The Burj Khalifa lights up at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
The UAE Flag area on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi lights up in red to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
The UAE Flag area on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi lights up in red to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
The ADNOC Headquarters lights up in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
The ADNOC Headquarters lights up in Abu Dhabi to celebrate the success of the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Victor Besa / The National
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed celebrates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed celebrates with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to celebrate the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to mark the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National
People celebrate at an event at Burj Park in Dubai to mark the Hope probe going into orbit around Mars. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Science

UAE aims to create a private space sector, minister says

Sarah Al Amiri says US model where private sector supports space exploration could be replicated

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir
UAE

March 12, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE's space strategy involves creating a vibrant private sector with local companies helping to boost the space economy, a government minister said.

Sarah Al Amiri, chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency and Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, said the American model where the private sector supported space exploration could be replicated here.

Speaking on the second day of the World Government Summit, Ms Amiri said laws that would make it easier for companies to operate from the Emirates were needed.

Last year, the UAE became the first country in the Middle East to pass a space law. The legislation aims to drive investment and increase participation from the private sector globally.

Our first advent into planetary exploration is to transfer and expedite the transfer of know-how and knowledge into the space sector of the UAE

“Our first advent into planetary exploration is to transfer and expedite the transfer of ... knowledge into the space sector of the UAE,” Ms Al Amiri said.

"What we're currently designing and developing is how do you transfer that on to [the] creation of a private sector, first for Earth observation [and] then, hopefully, jumping into what the US has done successfully, which is allowed for [the] private sector to exist or provided a value proposition for the private sector to exist and aid exploration."

Nasa uses its partnerships with private companies to make the country's space programme more sustainable.

Through its partnership with SpaceX, it recently began to launch astronauts into space from the US again.

Public and private sector partnerships in the UAE have also started.

Sarah Al Amiri, the UAE's Minister of State for Advanced Sciences and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency. EPA
Sarah Al Amiri, the UAE's Minister of State for Advanced Sciences and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency. EPA

The UAE Space Agency teamed up with Virgin Galactic to launch space tourism flights from the UAE. In 2019, the agency signed an agreement with Al Ain Airport to use their facilities as a spaceport.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre teamed up with UAE-based Strata to develop parts for the MBZ satellite.

Read More

Latest in UAE's space missions

Space jobs in UAE: Astronauts tell university students to prepare for sector boom

The centre previously contracted privately owned companies outside the country, but now partnerships with those operating locally will help to boost the space economy.

“The entire region is a new entrant, especially when it comes to being a player in the private sector, either in designing systems or in producing data,” Ms Al Amiri said.

“So, the first [step] is to elevate the demand for space products and services and at the same time to build an understanding of what other sectors could use products and services from space.

"The other aspect is to also capitalise on small satellites. With the ease of access and lower cost to space, you are able to develop and streamline the development of small spacecraft for various uses. That, then, becomes the second method by which you are enabling companies and designing of space systems."

UAE's lunar landing mission – in pictures 

An artist's impression of the UAE's lunar rover called Rashid.
An artist's impression of the UAE's lunar rover called Rashid.
Dr Hamad Al Marzooqi, project manager of the Emirates Lunar Mission at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dr Hamad Al Marzooqi, project manager of the Emirates Lunar Mission at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Chris Whiteoak / The National
An artist's impression of iSpace's Hakuto-Reboot lunar lander. It will carry UAE's Rashid rover to the surface of the Moon in 2022.
An artist's impression of iSpace's Hakuto-Reboot lunar lander. It will carry UAE's Rashid rover to the surface of the Moon in 2022.
The UAE aims to land the Rashid rover on the near side of the Moon due to its smoother surface.
The UAE aims to land the Rashid rover on the near side of the Moon due to its smoother surface.
The far side of the Moon remains largely unexplored, but Nasa is turning its focus back to the lunar surface.
The far side of the Moon remains largely unexplored, but Nasa is turning its focus back to the lunar surface.
The HAKUTO-R lander, which will deliver the UAE's Rashid rover to the lunar surface in 2022, is now in final stages of assembly.
The HAKUTO-R lander, which will deliver the UAE's Rashid rover to the lunar surface in 2022, is now in final stages of assembly.
The ispace team completed the assembly of the lander's structure thermal model in April. Courtesy: ispace
The ispace team completed the assembly of the lander's structure thermal model in April. Courtesy: ispace
The final assembly of the lander is being carried out in co-operation with the Ariane Group GmbH at the Ariane Group facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany. Courtesy: ispace
The final assembly of the lander is being carried out in co-operation with the Ariane Group GmbH at the Ariane Group facility in Lampoldshausen, Germany. Courtesy: ispace
Using a lander and rocket that is already available helps Emirati engineers and scientists get quicker and easier access to space. Courtesy: ispace
Using a lander and rocket that is already available helps Emirati engineers and scientists get quicker and easier access to space. Courtesy: ispace
The initial concept design of the Rashid rover. Courtesy: MBRSC
The initial concept design of the Rashid rover. Courtesy: MBRSC
Rashid rover's thermal imager will analyse the Moon's properties through thermal energy. Courtesy: MBRSC
Rashid rover's thermal imager will analyse the Moon's properties through thermal energy. Courtesy: MBRSC
The Langmuir probes on the rover will analyse the lunar surface charge and electric fields. Courtesy: MBRSC
The Langmuir probes on the rover will analyse the lunar surface charge and electric fields. Courtesy: MBRSC
One of the rover's two high-resolution optical imagers that will take photos of the Moon. Courtesy: MBRSC
One of the rover's two high-resolution optical imagers that will take photos of the Moon. Courtesy: MBRSC
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on Quran memorisation:
While you're here
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
What%20is%20Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%3F%20
%3Cp%3EDungeons%20%26amp%3B%20Dragons%20began%20as%20an%20interactive%20game%20which%20would%20be%20set%20up%20on%20a%20table%20in%201974.%20One%20player%20takes%20on%20the%20role%20of%20dungeon%20master%2C%20who%20directs%20the%20game%2C%20while%20the%20other%20players%20each%20portray%20a%20character%2C%20determining%20its%20species%2C%20occupation%20and%20moral%20and%20ethical%20outlook.%20They%20can%20choose%20the%20character%E2%80%99s%20abilities%2C%20such%20as%20strength%2C%20constitution%2C%20dexterity%2C%20intelligence%2C%20wisdom%20and%20charisma.%20In%20layman%E2%80%99s%20terms%2C%20the%20winner%20is%20the%20one%20who%20amasses%20the%20highest%20score.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
On Women's Day
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:

Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona

Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate

Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid

Whiile you're here
Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

Kareem Shaheen on Canada
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
While you're here ...
SCORES

Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)

Habtoor interview
While you're here
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Saturday (UAE kick-off times)

Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)

Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)

West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)

Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)

Sunday

Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)

Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)

Everton v Liverpool (10pm)

Monday

Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)

Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

While you're here
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

While you're here
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
You might also like
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Company name: Farmin

Date started: March 2019

Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi 

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: AgriTech

Initial investment: None to date

Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs 

While you're here
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea
While you're here
More from Aya Iskandarani
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE

Uae In SpaceUAEScienceSpace

Most popular today

1

Iker Casillas on Cristiano Ronaldo, the rise of Middle East football and the future of sport

2

Inside UAE’s most expensive school, from Dh200,000 fees to esports classrooms

3

After decades of acclaim, Brad Pitt finally has his blockbuster – and Abu Dhabi helped make it happen

4

Dubai's new first-time home buyer scheme to benefit existing residents amid foreign investor surge

5

Dubai launches scheme to help first-time investors buy properties valued up to Dh5m

6

The meaning behind the UAE's new dirham banknotes

7

As Dubai cracks down on illegal partitions and subletting, here's what you should know

8

Dave Chappelle roasts Trump, Israel-Iran conflict and DJ Khaled's silence

9

What can be done to solve UAE traffic congestion?

10

Sharjah road closures in place for two months due to Etihad Rail work