The UAE has launched the International Space Cooperation Program, a $272 million (AED1 billion) initiative aimed at boosting global collaboration in space research and development.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, chaired a meeting of the council during which he directed the launch of the International Space Cooperation Program.
The launch of the International Space Cooperation Program supports the UAE’s strategic direction for the space sector, focused on building a resilient national space ecosystem that attracts investment while ensuring sustainability through the development of national capabilities.
The strategy seeks to diversify knowledge and technology sources, strengthen global leadership in space partnerships and market access, and develop space infrastructure and facilities that meet the highest international standards.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy PM and Minister of Defence UAE, Chairman – The Executive Council Dubai
“The UAE’s space sector is one of the key strategic sectors supporting a knowledge- and innovation-based national economy. The International Space Cooperation Program will contribute to localizing advanced technologies, empowering national talent, and connecting UAE-based research institutions with their global counterparts through projects with sustainable economic and technological impact and partnerships based on innovation and the exchange of expertise. The UAE must continue its efforts to strengthen its position among the world’s leading space economies, in line with the objectives of the National Space Strategy 2031. This includes doubling the returns of the space economy, increasing the sector’s added value by 60 percent, and nurturing national capabilities in space research, development, and manufacturing.”
Building specialized talent via International Space Cooperation Program
According to the statement, the program also establishes a new phase in the UAE’s leadership in the space sector by focusing on patent development, technology localization, and the qualification of specialized talent.
It also prioritizes high-growth and high-impact sectors, contributing to the transformation of innovation into integrated space industries with tangible economic impact, while fostering an attractive environment that draws leading global talent and high-quality investments. This will further enhance the UAE’s competitiveness in global markets and help it keep pace with the rapid growth of the international space economy.
