The UAE has transferred the chairmanship of COPUOS to Egypt.

The UAE delegation, led by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Space Agency, took part in the 67th session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in Vienna, Austria, from 19th to 28th June 2024. During the session, the ceremonial handover of the COPUOS chairmanship from Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Advanced Science and Technology, to Dr. Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, took place.

Dr. Ahmad Al Falasi expressed gratitude to Omran Sharaf for his contributions during his leadership of COPUOS over the past two years and wished the Arab Republic of Egypt success in its leadership role. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in the outer space sector and shared the UAE's commitment to working with partners worldwide to advance space technology for the benefit of humanity.

The UAE delegation highlighted the country's achievements in the national space sector, including the development of space policies, regulations, the National Space Strategy 2030, and upcoming space missions such as the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), the UAE's participation in establishing the first lunar station, and Rashid Rover 2. They also underscored the UAE's commitment to international cooperation in space exploration and invited member states to participate in the Abu Dhabi Space Debate (ADSD) in December 2024 to promote global dialogue and cooperation in space.

Omran Sharaf acknowledged the UAE's positive and constructive leadership of COPUOS and emphasized the country's efforts to enhance security and stability in space exploration and technology development for the betterment of life on Earth. He looked forward to continued collaboration with strategic partners and fellow Committee members for future successes.
Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, the Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, took part in a panel discussion at the UN Conference on Sustainable Lunar Activities 2024. During the discussion, he provided valuable insights into the fundamental principles of the Artemis Accords and the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The session focused on conducting space activities for peaceful purposes according to international law, avoiding conflicts in outer space, and promoting transparency in sharing scientific data and mission information to facilitate open communication among all participants.

Al Qubaisi called for the formation of joint committees comprising representatives from the countries under the two agreements. These committees would unify standards, protocols, and best practices and would host global space conferences, forums, and workshops to bridge gaps, resolve conflict, and foster a unified approach to space governance. This would facilitate global collaboration efforts and joint missions and endorse sustainable practices in space exploration.

Al Qubaisi also emphasized the UAE's involvement in developing a module for NASA's Lunar Gateway Station in collaboration with the USA, Japan, Canada, and the European Union. He also highlighted the milestone achievement of sending the first Emirati astronaut into lunar orbit.

On the sidelines of the session, the UAE Space Agency, endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Space Debate, hosted an event titled "Collaborative Frontiers: United Nations in Space Endeavors." The UAE Space Agency team outlined the objectives and main themes of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate (ADSD): space sustainability, space security, and space accessibility.

The UAE's chairmanship of COPUOS from 2022 to 2023, representing the largest committee in the UN with 100 member states, signifies the global community's confidence in the UAE's role in promoting scientific and technological advancement. It highlights the UAE's capacity to lead the world towards enhanced cooperation in addressing the major challenges facing the space sector globally.

During its chairmanship, the UAE made remarkable progress and significant achievements in several areas, despite ongoing geopolitical challenges. The UAE merged multiple agendas to enhance efficiency and avoid duplication. These included The United Nations Programme on Space Applications, space technology for sustainable socio-economic development, and remote sensing of the Earth by satellite, including applications for developing countries and monitoring the Earth's environment.

Furthermore, the UAE contributed to integrating the items related to the application of the five United Nations treaties on outer space, national legislation relevant to the peaceful use of space, and capacity building in space law into a single item, which helped improve work efficiency.

It also promoted fair and peaceful access to space for all countries, encouraging compliance with international legal frameworks and UN treaties governing the safety and sustainability of outer space among member states, and supporting the promotion of knowledge transfer programs between countries.