Delivered by: HE Ibrahim Al Qassim, Deputy Director General of the UAE Space Agency
Mr. President,
The United Arab Emirates affirms its unwavering commitment to the peaceful and responsible use of outer space. We renew our support for the pivotal role of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
The UAE also extends its sincere condolences on the passing of Mr Teodoro Valente and recalls with great admiration his valuable contributions to supporting the Committee’s work and promoting international cooperation in space.
Mr. President,
The UAE commends the outstanding efforts made by Italy during its chairmanship of the Committee, and for its effective leadership and firm commitment to advancing international dialogue and promoting consensus among Member States. From this platform, we reaffirm our continued support for efforts to promote international cooperation and the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space for the benefit of the entire international community.
The UAE also renews its full commitment to international treaties and agreements relating to the use of outer space to which my country is a party. We affirm the continued development of our legislative system to ensure that space activities are conducted in accordance with the highest standards of safety and sustainability, and to enhance the participation of the private sector in this vital arena.
As part of the National Space Strategy 2031, the UAE continues to build a competitive and sustainable space sector based on knowledge, innovation, and the empowerment of national talent. This year saw the unveiling of the nationally developed probe as part of the UAE’s mission to explore the asteroid belt, in preparation for the launch of the “Mohammed bin Rashid” explorer in 2028 on a journey of about five billion kilometers to study seven asteroids.
The UAE’s Mars exploration mission, known as the “Hope Probe”, has also been extended until 2028 to continue its scientific contribution to the international scientific community. The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre is also continuing its preparations for the “Rashid 2” mission to the far side of the Moon.
In terms of industry and applications, the “Al-Tayr-1” satellite, manufactured by Orbit Works, was launched this month. It is the first commercial Earth observation satellite equipped with Artificial Intelligence technology to be manufactured in the UAE, and it comes as part of a constellation of ten Earth observation satellites operating with Artificial Intelligence technologies.
Mr. President,
Believing that space technologies are a tool to serve humanity, the UAE assumed the presidency of the International Charter on “Space and Major Disasters” between April and October 2026. During this period, we have worked with national authorities and international partners to harness satellite imagery and geospatial data to support countries affected by floods, earthquakes, forest fires, and other natural disasters.
With the continued phenomenon of space debris and increasing congestion in orbits, which constitutes one of the most prominent challenges facing the sustainability of space, the UAE continues to support the implementation of the guidelines for the long-term sustainability of space activities and guidelines for mitigating space debris.
In this context, the UAE led the efforts to establish the Expert Group on Space Situation Awareness, which will continue its work until 2028. The Group bases its work on a survey in which 96 experts from 40 countries participated, and briefings provided by 18 member states, in addition to written contributions from member states and permanent observers.
The Group is currently working on two draft recommendations to address the most pressing issues: The first concerns the designation of contact points for satellite operators, including a contact point available around the clock, and the second concerns the exchange of orbital information and spacecraft characteristics necessary to assess and avoid risks of collision.
We reiterate our acknowledgements to all members of this Group for their support and active participation in its work, and we invite them to participate in our upcoming meetings to share their experiences in existing coordination mechanisms.
In conclusion, the UAE reiterates its firm commitment to supporting the sustainability of space activities and promoting international cooperation. We look forward to continuing to work with all member states to achieve common goals, believing that outer space is a right for all humanity, and that keeping it safe and sustainable is a shared responsibility among all countries.
Thank you, Mr. President