AeroBD | The AERO news Company…Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 8, 2015 : His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, toured the UAE Space Agency Stand at the Dubai Air Show. The show was inaugurated today, and will be open until November 12th, at the Dubai World Central Exhibition Center, Al Maktoum Airport.

His Highness was welcomed by HE Dr. Khalifa Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, and HE Dr. Mohamed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the agency.  His Highness was presented with an overview of the agency’s future plans and current initiatives, within the context of its mandate to regulate and develop the space sector in the country. His Highness was also part of a briefing on the agency’s participation at the Dubai Air Show, and the opportunity the show presents to introduce the agency to the global community to enable an exchange of experience and knowledge with the world leaders in this domain.

The agency’s higher officials also presented in His Highness’ presence, the efforts being undertaken to spread awareness of the role, activities, and most prominent achievements of the agency at a global level. This was done especially in the context of the ground breaking initiatives it is launching, such as “Hope Probe”, the agency’s contribution to space science – a cornerstone in scientific research regarding the red planet.

Madarat Magazine
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid examined the first issue of ‘Madarat’, the agency’s magazine, which happened to coincide with the Dubai Air Show. The magazine covers the latest developments in space science, as well as activities pertaining to the space sector in the UAE. It also features the views and opinions of the sector’s pioneers in the UAE, the most prominent events of the sector at a global level, and a collection of scientific facts and imagery.

“My Space Shuttle”
His Highness also witnessed the launching of Space Rocket Competition launched by the agency for UAE primary and secondary school students, with the aim to spread awareness about the agency’s mandate, and generate students’ interest in the space sector. The competition, organized in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Education Council, and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, seeks to generate interest among the students by engaging them in awareness activities that focus on the space sector.

Students will be asked to color a space shuttle on a background of their choosing, and submit their work to a jury, which will select the top 44 designs from around 250 schools. Winning schools will be awarded a 2×2 meter model of the space shuttle, for students to apply their winning design on. Final designs will be displayed at a special exhibition that will be held alongside the celebrations of the UAE’s 44th national day, as well as in other locations around the country.

Interactive Model
His Highness also examined a spherical interactive model showing the planets of the solar system. The model allows navigation among planets, and enables the exploring of their landscape via touch technology.

About the UAE Space Agency
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has embarked on an historic initiative via setting up a Space Agency that will join others in promoting space exploration and contributing to the global scientific space community. The UAE Space Agency has developed a strategic framework to guide the Agency in executing its mandates dictated by the Decree that was established in July 2014. These areas include developing the space sector, creating space policy and regulation, supporting the development of a generation of engineers and scientists and directing national space programs that will have direct benefits to the UAE’s economy and developing human capital.

For more information, please contact us on:  media@space.gov.ae , Phone: +971 (0) 2021 2022