( A scene the UAE Cabinet meeting)

UAE Cabinet Approves Space Strategy 2031 and 120 International Agreements

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, chaired a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, during which the Cabinet approved a national strategy for the space sector and several international memoranda of understanding.

The Cabinet commended the high level of preparedness of the Armed Forces, the strong sense of patriotism among the people of the UAE and its residents, and the great sense of responsibility demonstrated by all working teams across the country.

The Cabinet affirmed that all sectors and working teams in the UAE are operating in accordance with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to preserve achievements and maintain a high level of readiness, ensuring the UAE's resilience during times of crisis and a swift return to normalcy across all sectors.

The Cabinet also expressed its pride in all national, societal, media, cultural, and economic components during this critical period for the nation, emphasizing the need to redouble efforts and unify energies to move towards a stronger, more prosperous, and more advanced future.

The Council affirmed that global confidence in the UAE and its development experience is firmly established, built through decades of achievement, years of commitment, and genuine and sustainable partnerships with countries around the world, international organizations, and global economic and financial institutions. It noted the adoption of more than 120 international agreements and memoranda of understanding in the fields of energy, investment, the economy, diplomacy, and humanitarian affairs during the meeting.

National Space Strategy 2031

During the meeting, the Cabinet adopted the National Space Strategy 2031, building upon previous strategies and efforts and representing a new step towards realizing the nation's future aspirations. This strategy stems from the UAE's vision to solidify its leading position as a global hub for innovation and investment, aligning with the priorities of the UAE Centennial 2071 and the "We Are the UAE 2031" document. It also reflects the nation's commitment to diversifying the national economy and enhancing the space sector's contribution to economic growth.

The strategy aims to establish a flexible and reliable investment environment that supports the development and construction of space infrastructure and facilities according to the highest international standards. It also seeks to enable strategic partnerships and projects with direct economic impact, enhance the UAE's access to international markets, and expand the base of national companies operating in the space sector.

The strategy aims to establish a reliable investment environment that develops infrastructure & space facilities.

The strategy is based on three main objectives: to make the UAE's space ecosystem the most flexible and attractive for investment; to achieve global leadership in space partnerships and market access; and to develop space infrastructure and facilities to competitive standards.

Key objectives of the strategy include doubling the returns of the space economy; positioning the UAE among the top 10 global space economies by 2031; increasing the economic added value of the space sector; doubling the number of national companies operating in the space sector; doubling the number of countries receiving UAE space exports; doubling investments in space sector assets and infrastructure facilities; and doubling the number of space startups headquartered in the UAE.

The Cabinet reviewed the results of the previous strategy for the space sector in the country, where national efforts in this sector succeeded in developing advanced local capabilities in research, development and manufacturing of space technology, launching inspiring scientific and exploratory space missions, promoting effective local and global partnerships and investments in the space industry, developing 30 satellites, and bringing the number of institutions operating in the space economy in the country to more than 170 institutions.