The UAE wins the presidency of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space "COBOS"

In a new achievement for Emirati diplomacy that reflects the success of its foreign policy, the UAE won the presidency of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space "COBOS", one of the largest committees at the United Nations, which includes 100 member states.

Imran Anwar Sharaf, Director of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, will assume the position of Chairman of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space “COBOS”, and according to the system in force in the UN organization, the UAE’s presidency of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space “COBOS”, which was established for the first time in the year, will continue. 1959, and tracked by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, for a period of two years (2022-2023).

The UAE's victory in the presidency of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space "COBOS" is of great importance to the state, and is one of the most important factors that enhance its soft power during the next stage. It also reflects and consolidates the country's leadership in the field of space policy by leading dialogues on the main challenges that Confronting the global space, and highlighting the Emirati 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, and the role of the committee will be pivotal in building policies to ensure the sustainability of space, and the role of the committee will also be pivotal in encouraging Adopting organizational 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 the impossible and leadership of change for the UAE government.

The UAE presidency of "Cobos" .. clear visions

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 supporting and encouraging Knowledge transfer programs between countries as a means of accomplishing tasks more efficiently and effectively, and as a tool for developing the space economy at the global level, and promoting the exchange and development of new and innovative practices of the Committee’s work system, consistent with international law, and for the benefit of humanity.

Sarah Al Amiri: Space..a promising sector in the UAE

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Space Agency, said, "The UAE's winning of the presidency of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COBOS) is a direct and clear reflection of the success of science, technology and knowledge diplomacy that the UAE has established in its various foreign relations, This reflects its unremitting efforts in a sector that is still promising with discoveries and knowledge capable of enhancing the human development process.”

Her Excellency pointed to the great global resonance 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: "The international scientific community concerned with the space sector has received The UAE announced the new space mission to explore Venus and the asteroid belt among the fifty projects, with remarkable passion and appreciation, and it is the advanced scientific mission that has placed the UAE at the forefront of countries that attach great importance to the space sector and a major priority in its development plans, and further consolidate the position of the state In this sector, to complete a comprehensive national project that contributed to its formulation as well as the successful launch of the "Probe of Hope".

Her Excellency also praised the selection of Imran Sharaf to assume the responsibility of chairing the United Nations Committee for 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 tasks, In the forefront of which is his management of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, "Probe of Hope", at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, and his participation in the "DubaiSat-1", "DubaiSat-2" and "KhalifaSat" projects, among others, as well as his representation of the country in many international conferences and events. concerned with the space sector, 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 

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For his part, Imran Sharaf expressed his pride in representing the state in this high global forum, adding: "There is no honor higher than representing the nation, 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 She joined its membership about 7 years ago, which certainly increases the size of the task and the greatness of the honour.

Omran added: "Achieving this great national achievement for the UAE translates and reflects the great importance that the wise leadership attaches to all the components of development in general, and those related to the space sector in particular, and 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: "The space sector in the UAE has witnessed successive successes, and it is a qualified sector, thanks to a future vision that gives it a clear priority in the development process, for more successes, especially in In light of the enormous capabilities and scientific expertise that we have in this field.”

Imran Sharaf..a young Emirati leadership   

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 Project for Mars Exploration (Probe of Hope), at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, and 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 projects, and contributed to the development of satellite control systems and the ground station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center. He also contributed to the development of the initial stages of the Khalifa Sat project. He conceived of establishing the Emirates Space Agency, supporting various strategic initiatives in the space sector, and working 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 in joint studies with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), concerned with emerging space programs.

The Chairman of the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space represented the country, and also worked on the establishment of the Electronic and Electrical Systems Team, the Project Management Office at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center, the establishment of the Department for Processing and Analysis of Space Images, and the Department of Technical Program Development at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. He received 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, while Sharaf is the first commander of an ongoing space exploration mission to assume this high position.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik-1, the first artificial satellite into space.

On October 4, 1957, 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 successively since 1972 until now, 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.

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