Mohammed bin Zayed: A new achievement for the state.. And Mohammed bin Rashid: Our youth are leading global files

The UAE wins the presidency of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Space

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The United Arab Emirates has won the presidency of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COBOS), one of the largest committees at the United Nations.

The Director of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, Imran Anwar Sharaf, will take over the position of Chairman of the Committee for the next two years.

Immediately after the announcement of the UAE's winning of this high international position, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, and his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, expressed their feeling of pride and pride in the UAE youth, and what they are achieving of achievements.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in a tweet on his personal page on Twitter, said, "The election of the son of the Emirates, Engineer Imran Sharaf (director of the Emirates Project for Mars Exploration), as Chairman of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space ... a new achievement for the state. It embodies the world’s appreciation for its programs and contributions in the field of space. We wish him success in leading this committee to implement its goals and projects.”

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also stressed the importance of the new Emirati achievement.

His Highness said in a tweet on Twitter: "Proud of the UAE winning the presidency of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space, which includes 100 countries, and ensures fair and peaceful access to space for these countries.

Proud of the son of the Emirates, Imran is an honor to have assumed this high international position. The youth of the Emirates have brought us to space, lead global files, and run international institutions.”

According to the system in force in the United Nations, the UAE's presidency of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space "COBOS", which was first established in 1959, and is affiliated with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, will continue for a period of two years (2022-2023).

The UAE’s victory in chairing the committee is of great importance to the state, and is one of the main factors that enhance its soft power during the next stage.

It also consolidates the state's leadership in the field of space policy by leading dialogues on the main challenges facing the global space, and highlights the UAE space diplomacy in facilitating the conclusion of international agreements and ensuring adherence to international treaties at a time of geopolitical and geoeconomic blocs and the race for access to space by the private sector.

The current stage doubles the importance of the UAE winning this position, as it is an important stage in setting space policies, as the countries of the world compete in launching large numbers of satellites.

The committee's role will be pivotal in building policies to ensure the sustainability of space.

It will also be pivotal in encouraging the adoption of regulatory frameworks calling for responsible behavior, while the UAE's presidency of the UN International Committee reflects the reality of positive representation of the principle of impossibility and leadership of change for the UAE government.

During its presidency of the intergovernmental organization, the UAE seeks to enhance the efforts of space and science diplomacy at the global level, encourage fair and peaceful access to space for all countries, and enhance compliance with international legal frameworks and United Nations treaties that govern the safety and sustainability of outer space among member states, in addition to Support and encourage knowledge transfer programs between countries as a means to accomplish tasks more efficiently and effectively, and as a tool for developing the space economy at the global level, and to promote the exchange and development of new and innovative practices for the Committee’s work system, consistent with international law, for the benefit of humanity.Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology and Chairman of the Emirates Space Agency, said that the UAE's victory in the presidency of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space "COBOS" is a direct reflection of the success of science, technology and knowledge diplomacy that the UAE has established in its various foreign relations, including It reflects its unremitting efforts in a sector that is still promising with discoveries and knowledge capable of enhancing the human development process.She pointed to the great global echo of the efforts and projects adopted by the state in building a national economy based on innovation, placing it at the forefront of countries that attach great importance to the space sector, and a major priority in their development plans, at the global level, adding that the international scientific community concerned with the space sector received the declaration of a state The UAE announced the new space mission to explore the planet Venus and the asteroid belt within the 50 projects, with remarkable passion and appreciation, a mission that further consolidates the country’s position in this sector, to complete a comprehensive national project that contributed to its formulation as well as the successful launch of the “Hope Probe”.

She also praised the selection of Imran Sharaf to assume the responsibility of chairing the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COBOS), noting the "high scientific and practical experiences that he enjoys, whether through academic qualification, or those available to him through various national scientific programmes, projects and missions, foremost among them." His management of the Emirates project to explore Mars (Hope Probe), at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, and his participation in the (Dubai Sat1), (Dubai Sat 2) and (KhalifaSat) projects, and others, as well as his representation of the country in many international conferences and events related to the sector Space”, calling on Emirati youth to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities offered by the expansion of the country’s interest in the field of advanced technology and the consolidation of a competitive national space industry.

For his part, Imran Sharaf expressed his pride in representing the country in this prestigious global forum.

He said: "There is no honor higher than representing the homeland, an honor that doubles when it comes to representing the UAE in one of the most important and largest committees in the United Nations, for the first time since it joined its membership about seven years ago, which certainly increases the size of The mission and the greatness of honor.”

He added, "Achieving this great national achievement for the UAE translates and reflects the importance that the leadership attaches to all components of development, especially those related to the space sector.

It also translates the high confidence that the country enjoys at the global level.”

Sharaf stressed that this victory is also the culmination of national scientific efforts and projects in the space sector, adding that "the space sector in the UAE has witnessed successive successes, and it is a sector that is qualified for more successes, especially in light of the enormous capabilities and scientific expertise that we have in this field." .

Omran Anwar Sharaf, who is the youngest candidate among his peers who chaired the UN committee, led the UAE's successful arrival to Mars on February 9, 2021, through his management of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project (Probe of Hope), at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, and he had a role Pivotal from the start, he led the team assigned to develop the initial concept for the project.

Sharaf participated in the design and development of the (Dubai Sat-1) and (Dubai Sat 2) project, and in the development of satellite control systems and the ground station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center. The Emirates Space Agency, supported various strategic initiatives in the space sector, and worked on several strategic initiatives to support building advanced technical capabilities for the state, and developing an integrated science and technology sector.

Sharaf has previously represented the country in the meetings of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the Committee on Space Navigation Systems.

He also led the country's team on joint studies with NATO, concerned with emerging space programmes.

Mohammed bin Zayed:

• “The election of the son of the Emirates, Engineer Imran Sharaf, as Chairman of the Committee.. It embodies the world’s appreciation of the country’s programs in the field of space.”

Mohamed Ben Rached:

• “Proud of the son of the Emirates, Imran, an honor to assume a high international position.. The youth of the Emirates took us to space.”

Imran Sharaf: 

• "The UAE's victory in the committee chair...a translation of the confidence that the UAE enjoys globally in the space sector."

Imran Sharaf

He holds a master’s degree in science and technology policies from KAIST University in Korea in 2013, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia in 2005, and a graduate of the Mohammed bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik-1, the first artificial satellite into space in 1957, and the 55th anniversary of the entry into force of the Outer Space Treaty, officially known as the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space.

The year 2022 also marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Landsat program, a group of satellites launched by NASA in succession since 1972, in addition to the UAE’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of the launch of the national space sector, with the establishment of the Thuraya Communications Company in April 1997.

The most prominent goals of the UAE during its presidency «Cobos»

■ Promote global space and science diplomacy efforts.

■ Promote fair and peaceful access to space for all nations.

■ Supporting the promotion of knowledge transfer programs between countries.

■ Promote the exchange and development of new and innovative practices of the Committee's work system for the good and interest of humanity.

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