UAE Entrusts COPUOS Chairmanship To Egypt, Strengthening Space Collaboration

A delegation from the UAE, led by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Space Agency, participated in the 67th session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in Vienna, Austria. The session took place from 19th to 28th June 2024.

This session included the ceremonial handover of the COPUOS chairmanship from Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Advanced Science and Technology, to Dr. Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, for the upcoming session.

Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi expressed his gratitude to Omran Sharaf for his contributions during his leadership of COPUOS over the past two years. He highlighted the important achievements made during Sharaf's tenure and offered best wishes to Egypt in its leadership role of the committee.

Dr. Al Falasi stated, "We are strong believers in the importance of international cooperation and collaboration when it comes to outer space to facilitate knowledge exchange, build capabilities and create tangible and innovative solutions to the world’s current and future challenges."

During the session, the UAE delegation highlighted the country’s achievements over the past two years in the national space sector. They discussed their organised approach to developing space policies, regulations for space activities, the National Space Strategy 2030, and the Space Science and Technology Policy.

The UAE’s upcoming space missions were also a focal point. These include: the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), participation in establishing the first lunar station in human history, and Rashid Rover 2.

The delegation emphasised the UAE’s commitment to bolstering international cooperation in science and technology. They called on member states to participate in the upcoming edition of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate (ADSD) in December 2024 to promote global dialogue and cooperation in space.

Omran Sharaf commented on his tenure, stating, "It has been a remarkable two years since the UAE chaired COPUOS. Our efforts in streamlining agendas have resulted in increased performance and efficiency."

Sharaf added that improved organisational arrangements and working methods contributed greatly to these successes. He noted that UAE's leadership underscored its international efforts to enhance security and stability in space exploration.

Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, participated in a panel discussion at the UN Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities 2024. He offered insights into the fundamental principles of the Artemis Accords and the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

The session discussed conducting space activities for peaceful purposes according to international law. It also covered avoiding conflicts in outer space and transparency in sharing scientific data to facilitate open communication among participants.

Al Qubaisi called for forming joint committees comprising representatives from countries under these agreements. These committees would unify standards, protocols, best practices, host global space conferences, forums, and workshops to bridge gaps and resolve conflicts.

Collaborative Frontiers Event

On the sidelines of the session, endorsed by Abu Dhabi Space Debate, an event titled "Collaborative Frontiers: United Nations in Space Endeavors" was hosted by UAE Space Agency. The team outlined objectives and main themes: space sustainability, security, and accessibility.

The UAE's chairmanship of COPUOS from 2022 to 2023 represented significant confidence from the global community in promoting scientific and technological advancement. It highlighted UAE's capacity to lead towards enhanced cooperation addressing major challenges facing the space sector globally.

Achievements During Chairmanship

During its chairmanship, UAE made significant progress despite ongoing geopolitical challenges. The nation merged multiple agendas to enhance efficiency and avoid duplication. These included The United Nations Programme on Space Applications and remote sensing of Earth by satellite.

The UAE contributed to integrating items related to applying five United Nations treaties on outer space into a single item. This helped improve work efficiency while promoting fair access to space for all countries.

The nation encouraged compliance with international legal frameworks governing outer space safety among member states. It also supported knowledge transfer programmes between countries.

With inputs from WAM