Dubai: An Emirati engineer has been elected for the first time into the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) to contribute to the advancement of space technology and sciences around the world.
Engineer Salem Al Merri, assistant director-general for Scientific and Technical Affairs at Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, has become the first Emirati to be elected an IAA corresponding member in a ceremony held on the sidelines of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Mexico. Al Merri was elected for his outstanding contributions to the science, technology and space sectors in the UAE.
“The space sector in the UAE has reached a good position in the global space community in such a short time. This drives us to play a positive role in global space affairs and participate in the international endeavours of developing peaceful applications of space technology and sciences,” said Al Merri, who was the project manager for the satellite projects, DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, the first two UAE satellites launched into space in 2009 and 2013.
The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) is an independent non-governmental organisation that was founded in 1960 and recognised by the UN in 1966. IAA consists of more than 1,200 members in 75 countries, including some GCC countries and other Arab countries such as: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Syria.
