UAE Space Agency Hosted Workshop to Strengthen Space Ties With Japan

The UAE Space Agency (UAESA) hosted a workshop with over 50 participants from the UAE and Japan, focusing on enhancing collaboration in space exploration. Held alongside the 2024 Abu Dhabi Space Debate, the event aimed to strengthen ties between the two countries' space sectors. Key attendees included H.E. Shihab Al Faheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan, and H.E. Ken Okaniwa, Japan’s Ambassador to the UAE, who delivered the opening remarks.

The workshop featured presentations by prominent figures such as H.E. Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of UAESA, and Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, underscoring the growing Emirati-Japanese partnership. The discussions spanned topics such as space accessibility, exploration, Earth observation and telecommunications, exploring opportunities for innovation and partnerships in line with the UAE’s National Space Strategy 2030.

The UAE and Japan's long-standing space cooperation was highlighted by the successful launch of the Emirates Mars Mission on a Japanese rocket. The recent UAE-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries agreement for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt further strengthens their collaboration and emphasises their shared commitment to technological innovation in space exploration.