(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The UAE Space Agency director-general Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi said the new National Space Policy is like a 'torch that shows the path to follow'. He said the UAE space sector is seeing double-digit growth and 'exceeding' global rate of 8 to 9 per cent.
The space agency is also open to new partnerships - both locally and internationally.
"If you look at international space stations, countries which have conflict on earth are cooperating in space," he said during an event to unveil the National Space Policy in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
The policy, approved by the Council of Ministers, aims to build a strong and sustainable UAE space sector that supports and protects national interests and related vital industries.
This includes contributing to diversification and growth of economy, strengthening specialised Emirati skill sets and developing scientific and hi-tech capabilities. It also seeks to nurture and grow a culture of innovation and enhance the UAE's status on regional and global levels.
Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi said the space agency is open to cooperation with other countries and space agencies.
"We have an agreement with Nasa, China, India and others. Space has no boundaries and it's a model for cooperation."
With space exploration, the UAE is 'entering a domain unique in the region', he said.
"Till now we were focused on satellite services. Our space exploration will attract more attention to the region. The new policy is like a torch to show the path to follow. We are exploring areas of building capacity as space agency."
Meanwhile, the UAE Space Agency chairman Dr Khalifa Al Romaithi said the country aims to occupy a leading position across numerous fields.
"The policy is in line with the UAE's vision and strategic plans for all other sectors in support of economic growth and diversity in the country.
It is considered a cornerstone that the UAE space sector is built and developed further, with the aim that the sector reaches short and long term goals, and strengthens the UAE's position among leading countries in space exploration and space capabilities development."
Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre director-general Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani said the UAE has defined the rules and strategies it needs to adopt in its push towards a knowledge-based economy, which depends on promoting the culture of scientific research and technical innovation.
Mars Mission 'on track'
The UAE's biggest space mission - a probe called 'Hope' - is 'on track'. The UAE will send an unmanned probe to the Red Planet by 2020 and the Mars Hope Probe Mission is scheduled to reach Mars in 2021.
"In terms of budget, timing and risk control, the project is moving in the right direction," Dr Al Ahbabi said.
The highlight is the contributions by Emiratis. "The core team of engineers is all Emiratis." The launch, though, will happen in foreign soil. "We will launch our rockets from Japan."
There's more to the mission than just reaching Mars. "It's more about what the six-year journey will bring to the country.
Ashwani Kumar
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