Head of UAE Space Agency Stresses Need for Korea-UAE Space Partnership Sharing Risks and Rewards

Interview with Salem Humaid Al Marri, Secretary General of MBRSC

Highlighting Korea-UAE Cooperation and Private Sector Participation in Spacenomics

Salem Humaid Al Marri, Secretary General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

"The most valuable partnerships are those in which both sides bring their real capabilities to the table and share both risks and rewards." Salem Humaid Al Marri, Secretary General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), United Arab Emirates (UAE), emphasized in his message wishing for the successful hosting of the '2026 Asia Future Enterprise Forum' by The Asia Business Daily, which will be held at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul on May 13. He underscored that space cooperation between Korea and the UAE should advance to a deeper level.

He highlighted Korea's advanced capabilities in manufacturing, electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, satellites, and launch vehicles, as well as the UAE's rapidly growing space ecosystem. "Korea's technological strengths and the UAE's space ecosystem are complementary," he assessed, adding, "There is significant potential to broaden our cooperation."

This year's Asia Future Enterprise Forum is themed 'Spacenomics,' addressing new business opportunities in the space industry and strategies for Korean companies. In a written interview with The Asia Business Daily on May 11, Secretary General Salem Al Marri emphasized that cooperation with Korea remains a significant milestone in the history of UAE space development, while also expressing proactive views on the direction of future collaboration. "Collaboration and coordination are the core foundations of the space sector," he said, adding, "The partnership with Korea will continue to evolve on a strong foundation." He further stressed, "We must create greater value based on mutual benefit and shared growth." According to him, future cooperation between Korea and the UAE should expand beyond simple participation or one-off projects, moving toward joint missions, professional talent exchanges, and human resource development.

MBRSC is a space agency under the government of Dubai that effectively leads the UAE's space development. Since its establishment in 2006, it has been responsible for the development and operation of Earth observation satellites, Mars exploration, lunar exploration, and astronaut programs. MBRSC serves as the UAE's core executive body connecting space to industry and talent ecosystems. By maintaining a close partnership with Satrec Initiative of Korea, it has grown into an agency with internationally recognized space development capabilities. The technological expertise and passion of researchers at Satrec Initiative have greatly inspired MBRSC researchers and laid a crucial foundation for the current status of MBRSC.

Secretary General Salem Al Marri also pointed out the growing role of private companies in the space industry. He stated, "While intergovernmental cooperation was at the center of the space ecosystem in the past, now private companies are participating in meaningful ways." He went on to explain, "This change is transforming the economic structure of the space industry." Space exploration, he noted, has become more than a symbol of national prestige; it now serves as industrial infrastructure supporting telecommunications, climate response, logistics, finance, and urban management.

The 'Spacenomics' concept advocated by the UAE also emphasizes the strategy of fostering components, electronics, data, and talent industries through space development. One prime example is the high-resolution Earth observation satellite, Mohammed Bin Zayed Satellite (MBZ-SAT). Secretary General Salem Al Marri revealed, "MBZ-SAT sourced 90% of its mechanical parts and a significant portion of its electronic components from domestic UAE industries." He added, "The space industry's impact is creating jobs and spreading into tangible economic value."

Cooperation with Korea has become a vital foundation for the UAE's space development. Starting with satellites, the UAE has gradually expanded its space capabilities through the Mars probe 'Hope (Amal)', astronaut programs, lunar rover 'Rashid', and MBZ-SAT. Secretary General Salem Al Marri stated, "We have learned from each mission and built upon those lessons for the next. The process of creating, learning, improving, and moving forward again is the true essence of a knowledge economy."

The UAE's formula for success resonates with Korea's current efforts to establish the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) as a new space growth strategy. Secretary General Salem Al Marri advised, "Korea has a strong foundation in manufacturing, electronics, satellite, launch vehicle, AI, and robotics technologies. It is important to rally Korea's strengths under a clear goal and to consistently push in that direction."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.