Abu Dhabi:
The UAE is likely to be the next nation to join the elite club of space powers comprising of the US, European Union, France, Russia, Japan, India and China, a top official of the French space agency told Gulf News on Thursday.
“What is important … is the Emirates is close to joining this club,” said Jean-Yves Le Gall, President of the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, (the National Centre of Space Studies of France) also known as CNES.
He said the progress the UAE has achieved in telecommunication sector with Yahsat — the company developing satellites — and in space with the UAE space agency, is visible.
“We are happy associate with these very important developments,” Le Gall said on the sidelines of a ceremony to sign a partnership agreement with the UAE.
The UAE Space Agency and the French space agency (CNES) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a strategic space partnership between the two entities.
Signed by Dr Khalifa Mohammad Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the UAE Space Agency and Le Gall, the MoU allows for extensive future cooperation in the field of space. It also covers partnerships in scientific missions and outreach efforts.
“This agreement is the first of its kind between the UAE and a foreign nation to partner in space activities,” Al Rumaithi said. “Working with a friendly nation like France in outer space can only serve to strengthen the bonds between our two countries, while the benefits to the UAE in terms of human capital development, experience and expertise gained are truly invaluable.”
Dr Mohammad Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency said: “While the UAE has decades of experience in managing satellites and other space activities, our strategic partnership with CNES will be a key opportunity for both agencies to work together on scientific missions, mutual cooperation and public outreach activities.”
Before the MoU signing, the two agencies exchanged visits to discuss cooperation. They have also discussed ways to support the UAE Space Agency’s key objective of knowledge transfer to assist the development of its human capital.
Michel Miraillet, the French Ambassador to the UAE said: “We already have numerous partnerships in various fields. With this MoU, it’s a new step in our relationship.”
The MoU includes an extensive framework for partnership between the UAE, the UAE Space Agency, France and CNES in space activities, including conception and implementation of joint studies and projects, the exchange of scientific data and information, an exchange of personnel and training of specialists between the two agencies, ground station operations support, as well as government activities related to space policy, public outreach and human development.
