The UAE Space Agency wrapped up its participation in the “Make it in the Emirates” event, which took place at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi from May 19 to 22. This significant event was hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and organized in collaboration with the ADNEC Group, the Ministry of Culture, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and ADNOC.

Joining over 500 exhibiting companies from 12 key sectors, along with prominent government officials, industry leaders, global investors, and tech innovators, the Agency highlighted its strategic achievements and groundbreaking projects. These initiatives underscore its essential role in propelling the national space economy and boosting the UAE’s global standing in scientific research, advanced technologies, and space exploration. Furthermore, the Agency sought to explore avenues for enhancing collaboration, sharing expertise, and expanding strategic partnerships with both local and international stakeholders.

His Excellency Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, remarked: “This event serves as a strategic platform to showcase the UAE’s accomplishments in the space sector and to foster partnerships between space and industrial entities. Our unified national framework supports localization, empowers Emirati talent, and accelerates the transfer of knowledge and advanced technologies.”

Al Qubaisi further stated: “Through our involvement, we aim to demonstrate the Agency’s commitment to transforming space innovation into a tangible driver of development, aligning with the nation’s vision for a sustainable economy and enhancing its global competitiveness.”

The UAE Space Agency team engaged visitors with insights into the Space Economic Zones Programme, designed to cultivate an attractive and integrated business environment that caters to both local and global demands. The programme plays a crucial role in supporting startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), thereby enhancing the competitiveness of companies within the national space economy. They also highlighted the significant economic incentives and initiatives provided by the programme.

Collaborating with the UAE Space Agency in the Space Economic Zones were Four Earth Intelligence Environmental Consulting LLC, QuantCube Technology, AlienSense, Third Body Dynamics, and Madari Space.

Additionally, the UAE Space Agency showcased the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) with a full-scale model of the Hope Probe, illustrating how it embodies the UAE leadership’s vision of a future rooted in knowledge and innovation. This project was developed by local talents in partnership with international collaborators, featuring several components crafted by Emirati engineers.

Since its arrival at Mars, the Hope Probe has generated several terabytes of data, available through the Science Data Center, offering a unique perspective on the Martian atmosphere. The findings from EMM have contributed significantly to the global scientific community, resulting in nearly 40 research papers published in esteemed international scientific journals.

On the sidelines of the event, Al Qubaisi participated in a panel discussion titled Advanced Technologies and Space Manufacturing: New Horizons for the UAE’s Industrial Ecosystem. The discussion focused on leveraging advanced technology and space manufacturing to reshape global supply chains and achieve significant advancements in medicine, energy, and communications. The session also tackled challenges related to infrastructure, investment, and capacity building, emphasizing the importance of integrating the space sector with advanced manufacturing to drive economic growth and foster scientific innovation.

The UAE Space Agency’s involvement in the “Make it in the Emirates” forum underscores its steadfast commitment to supporting the national initiative to localize advanced industries, particularly in the space sector. Through this participation, the Agency aims to cultivate cooperation with local and international partners while highlighting promising investment opportunities in the space industry. This effort contributes to empowering the private sector, driving innovation, and expanding the space economy’s role in the UAE’s non-oil GDP.