Fraternal ties with Kuwait a source of pride, says UAE ambassador

• His Excellency Dr. Matar Hamed Al-Neyadi, the Ambassador of the UAE to Kuwait, highlighted space sector investment as vital for the region’s future, citing the UAE’s program as a model for sustainable science advancement, youth empowerment, and enhanced national development through innovative scientific exploration and opportunities.

His Excellency Dr. Matar Hamed Al-Neyadi, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Kuwait, affirmed that the strong UAE-Kuwait relations are built on mutual respect and cooperation, especially in scientific fields such as space and youth empowerment.

In his speech during the ceremony hosted by the Emirates House in Kuwait for the Emirati astronauts—attended by Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of State for Communications Affairs Omar Al-Omar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense Dr. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sabah, and a large number of academics—Ambassador Al-Neyadi expressed pride in the deep fraternal relations between the two countries at various levels.

“We hope that cooperation in scientific fields, particularly in space and youth sectors, will expand to broader horizons, achieving shared interests and reflecting the unique nature of the relationship between the two countries,” the UAE ambassador said.

He pointed out that investment in the space sector represents a promising future for the region, with the UAE’s space programme serving as an ambitious model for sustainable investment in science—opening new horizons for youth and strengthening the role of science in national development.

Al-Neyadi noted that the participation of astronaut Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi and Emirati nationals Mohammed Al Mulla and Noura Al Matrooshi has significantly inspired Kuwaiti students by fostering a spirit of competition and a passion for knowledge. He emphasized that “cooperation on the KuwaitSat satellite project is a successful example of scientific collaboration between the two countries.”

UAE’s space programme praised

For her part, Dr. Hala Khaled Al-Jassar, Head of the Physics Department at Kuwait University and Director of the National Satellite Project “KuwaitSat-1,” praised the UAE’s space programme as highly successful and ambitious, inspiring youth across the Gulf and the Arab world. She also noted the enthusiasm among university students to meet the Emirati astronauts.

She pointed out that the UAE’s experience serves as a catalyst for the progress of Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Kuwait University has been engaged in space science projects since 2000

Dr. Hala Khaled Al-Jassar noted that Kuwait University has been engaged in space science projects since 2000, including a major collaboration with the European Space Agency and NASA from 2013 to 2018. The university has also operated the Muon Observatory for more than 20 years, which monitors solar storms and is part of a global network for tracking cosmic rays and forecasting solar activity.

Kuwait builds momentum in space with KuwaitSat-2 project

Dr. Hala Khaled Al-Jassar added that the university has conducted extensive research in this field, the latest of which is the KuwaitSat project—successfully launched into orbit in 2023 by national teams. The satellite remains in orbit, actively capturing images. She revealed that work is now underway on Kuwait’s second satellite, “KuwaitSat-2,” with some components being manufactured in Kuwait University laboratories.

Kuwait urged to boost space funding for future innovation

Mohammed Qassim, Dean of the Dubai Future Academy, highlighted the UAE’s progress in various fields, particularly space sciences. He noted the UAE’s achievements, including its large satellites, the launch of the Hope Probe to Mars, and the development of the Rashid Rover, capable of traversing the moon’s surface.

Qassim emphasized that the UAE’s experience is pioneering, and Kuwait must learn from it and engage in joint efforts. He stressed the need for greater action to develop this field and called on the Kuwaiti government to provide robust support, noting that space advancement requires a significant budget.

Kuwait has made significant strides in the space sector

Nada Al-Daihani, Director General of the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity, a Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) initiative, praised the UAE’s unique experience, noting the country has made significant strides in the space sector, particularly in capacity building and preparing individuals to lead this endeavor. She noted that Kuwait is on a steady path toward developing space services.

“Kuwait has a long history in space research”

Dr. Yasser Mohammed Abdul Rahim, a member of the Kuwait Space Research Center and part of the Electrical Engineering Department at the College of Engineering, affirmed that Kuwait plays a significant role in the space sector. He highlighted that Kuwait has signed all relevant agreements with the United Nations and other organizations regulating space research since their inception.

He pointed to Kuwait’s long-standing involvement in space research, citing the KuwaitSat-1 project, a Kuwaiti satellite that was successfully launched.

UAE a pioneering country in the region’s space field

He described the UAE as a pioneering country in the region’s space field, emphasizing its focus on developing human capital. He noted that young Emiratis who studied space programs in Korea and the United States returned to establish the UAE’s now globally competitive space sector.