Abu Dhabi, UAE, 25 May 2022:  The UAE Space Agency is participating in the Global Aerospace Summit 2022, hosted by Mubadala Investment Company. The summit is held at the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on 24-27 May at Emirates Palace Hotel, with the participation of leaders in the aviation, space, and defence sectors from around the world.

The summit, held under the theme of “prosperity supported by digital technologies,” will outline the rapid shift witnessed in the aviation, space, and defence sectors during the past few years, and the role of innovation and technology in developing these sectors in the future. Due to the growing interest by aviation and defence companies in advanced digital technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, primarily AI, robotics, data analysis, and computerisation technologies, the Summit is focusing on the impact of digitisation and advanced technologies in terms of enhancing efficiency and sustainability levels in the aviation, space, and defence sectors.

As part of the Summit, His Excellency Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, will deliver a speech on the UAE national space program and its role in supporting and developing technologies and innovations. His Excellency will also discuss the importance of enhancing prospects of establishing international partnerships to strengthen the UAE’s position on the regional and international levels.

His Excellency Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, said: “With the insightful vision of the wise leadership, the UAE has succeeded in consolidating its position as an international soft power in the fields of knowledge, technology, and space science. The UAE has realized historical achievements based on a national policy that seeks to build a strong and sustaainable national space sector, which would support and protect national interests, and contribute to enhancing the Emirati youths’ capabilities and develop their scientific and technical knowledge and skills. This paves the way for the Emirati youth to be part of the UAE space sector’s journey of development and growth throughout the next fifty years.”

“Our participation in this important global event is a unique opportunity for reviewing the consecutive achievements realized by the UAE space sector, and share our expertise and successes, in addition to boosting cooperation and joint action with international partners in the fields of space science and peaceful exploration of outer space,” His Excellency added.

Abdulla Al Marar, Manager of the Space Projects Section at the UAE Space Agency, is participating in a seminar on “digital space”. The seminar will discuss how companies in the space sector can combine various digital technologies like cloud computing, blockchain, and machine learning to build purposeful competitiveness, as well as the role of technologies in supporting the development of more innovative and upgradeable business models that add vitality to space exploration.

Other speakers from the closing day of the Summit will include Mohsen Al Awadi, Manager of the Space Missions Section at the UAE Space Agency, who is participating in a seminar entitled “space exploration, a motivator for creating commercial opportunities”. The seminar will discuss the development and growth of space exploration programs due to the drop in the costs of launching exploration missions and the recent technological advances, as well as the role of private sector companies in outlining the future of space exploration, and the prospects of establishing a dedicated economy for space exploration during the next decade.

The Global Aerospace Summit 2022 agenda includes new activities, including sessions for startups and workshops, which focus on attracting investments in new projects and technologies. The Summit will also be organizing the NextGen Leaders program, which is dedicated to developing and building the skills and capabilities of students, graduates, and young professionals in the aviation, defence, and space sectors.