The UAE Establishes Supreme Space Council
The Supreme Space Council will oversee the space sector’s public policies, set national priorities, and identify the technologies needed to ensure the country’s technological independence.
The UAE cabinet, led by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE's vice president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai, has approved the creation of the Supreme Space Council. This new permanent body will report directly to the cabinet and will be chaired by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE.[1]
The council’s membership includes the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology HE Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the Minister of Economy HE Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, and the Chairperson of the UAE Space Agency’s Board of Directors HE Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, who will also serve as secretary general. Other members include officials in artificial intelligence (AI), space technology, and defense industries.
The Supreme Space Council will oversee the space sector’s public policies, set national priorities, and identify the technologies needed to ensure the country’s technological independence. It will also establish investment goals for public and private entities involved in space activities. The council will approve plans related to space security and work with international partners to manage space infrastructure and assets.
Additionally, the council will focus on building partnerships within the space sector, developing local capacity, and reviewing legislation and policies. The UAE Space Agency will act as the general secretariat to the council, providing technical and administrative support.
The UAE is actively developing its space sector as part of its broader strategy to diversify the economy and build expertise in advanced technology fields. The UAE Space Agency, established in 2014, plays a central role in coordinating the country’s space activities and shaping policies.
In 2020, the UAE launched the uncrewed space exploration Emirates Mars Mission, led by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). The mission has been orbiting Mars since 2021 and studying the Martian atmosphere, with the aim of understanding more about the planet's lower and middle atmospheres.
In 2019, the UAE laid out a National Space Strategy for 2030, which focuses on developing space-related industries, fostering international partnerships, and encouraging private sector involvement. That same year, Hazzaa AlMansoori became the first Emirati astronaut to participate in a space mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
