Abu Dhabi: The board of the UAE Space Agency has approved its first annual budget and discussed the progress of work on the Mars probe project.
The budget was approved yesterday at the board’s first meeting, which was presided over by Dr Khalifa Mohammad Thani Al Rumaithi. The steps to establish the space agency and some other space programmes and projects were also discussed.
Al Rumaithi renewed his congratulations to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on the decision to establish the space agency as a leading step to shift the UAE to the ranks of developed nations in space science.
Al Rumaithi praised General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his ongoing support to develop education and encourage Emirati citizens to engage in various scientific fields, especially space science and technology to catch up with advanced countries.
He said the agency would be responsible for supervising and organising all space-related activities, developing the sector, ensuring knowledge transfer, enhancing the UAE’s position as a global player in aerospace, and maximising the contribution of space industries to the national economy.The agency enjoys financial and administrative independence and will report to the Cabinet and enjoy financial and administrative independence.
