Horizons Middle East & Africa 06/15/2026 (Video)

The United Arab Emirates launched the "Arab Space Agency" on June 15, 2026, to foster collaboration in space exploration and research across the Arab world. This initiative aims to pool resources and expertise from member states to undertake ambitious space projects, including satellite development, deep space missions, and astronaut training programs. The agency's establishment follows a series of successful space endeavors by individual Arab nations, such as the Emirates Mars Mission "Hope" which reached Mars orbit in February 2021, and Saudi Arabia's astronaut program. The "Arab Space Agency" will be headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will operate under the guidance of a council composed of ministers of science and technology from participating countries. Initial funding for the agency is set at $500 million, with contributions from founding members including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. The agency's first major project will be the development of a joint satellite constellation for Earth observation and climate monitoring, scheduled for launch by 2030. This strategic move is expected to accelerate the region's capabilities in space science and technology, creating new economic opportunities and enhancing scientific understanding of the universe.