SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate (ADSD) will take place on December 10-11, 2024, bringing together over 1,000 global policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and emerging space players from both the public and private sectors.
Titled "From Earth to Orbit: A Space for Action and Accountability", the event aims to tackle the space sector's most pressing challenges, including sustainability, security, and accessibility.
With the growing threat of space debris and overcrowding in Earth's orbit, the ADSD will serve as a platform to move from dialogue to action, fostering global cooperation and the development of policies to safeguard space for future generations.
The event's objectives include generating bold solutions and setting actionable commitments to ensure a thriving, secure space ecosystem.
It will feature keynotes from physicist Brian Cox and geopolitical expert Tim Marshall, exploring space's role in global power dynamics.
Day one will focus on leveraging space technologies for security, tackling space debris, and fostering collaboration in space exploration.
Day two will address the readiness of space regulations for the 21st century, ensuring sustainability, amplifying emerging markets' voices, and balancing open access with national security, with a symbolic youth mock court workshop rounding out the discussions.
Speaking to Aletihad during a press briefing, Eng. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, stressed the focus of this edition on expanding workshops and utilising experts, leadership, and decision-makers to discuss future strategies and positions for global space use.
New collaborations are also on the agenda. "In every event of ADSD, we try to solidify some agreements with international partners," Al Qubaisi said.
Highlighting the event's alignment with the UAE's vision, he said: "The most important topic that is on the agenda of Abu Dhabi Space Debate is space sustainability. As you know, our government marked 2023 and 2024, as the Year of Sustainability, and we are carrying on that mantle in discussing an important future resource, which is space."
Al Qubaisi further underlined the importance of future-focused strategies, particularly involving youth, citing the moot court as an example for discussing suitable legal frameworks.
"The outcomes we look forward to from the Abu Dhabi Space Debate is to have an added value for our engagement internationally," he added.
Fatima Al Shamsi, Director of the Space Policies and International Relations Department at the UAE Space Agency, stressed the need to broaden the discussion, with private companies like SpaceX, playing a key role.
"Now, in recent years, we have seen increased access to space by private companies, like SpaceX. They need to be included in the drafting and the discussions that are related to space policy because they are considered the key player in the development of the space scene globally," Al Shamsi told Aletihad.
She added that ADSD serves as a platform for all space sectors.
Al Shamsi emphasised the necessity of both technological and policy-driven solutions to reduce debris, citing numerous efforts in innovation and policy implementation.
The ADSD is supported by key sponsors, including EDGE Group, Thales, Viasat, VAST, BlackSky, Planet Labs, and the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Mohamed Al Ahbabi, Senior Advisor for the Space and Cyber Technologies Cluster, at EDGE Group, highlighted the role of their new space company, "FADA", a name derived from the Arabic word for space.
"We support the UAE space sector and aim to position Fada as a new company to provide space services and empower UAE talents."