Historic first: UAE wins bid to host world’s largest space research event

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to make history by hosting the largest space research event in 2028 – a groundbreaking first for the Arab world. The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) General Assembly is scheduled to be held from July 8 to July 16, 2028.

HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum took to X to share the news of UAE winning the bid to host the 47th scientific assembly of the event.

The prestigious event will bring together more than 3,000 leading researchers, experts, and scientists from around the globe to share and discuss groundbreaking advancements in space exploration.

The UAE has firmly established itself as a key hub for the global scientific community, particularly in the field of space research.

Sheikh Hamdan even expressed his gratitude to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre for their instrumental role in positioning the UAE as a global leader in space research and fostering international cooperation in the sector.

What is COSPAR?

COSPAR, established in 1958, is the world’s foremost scientific body dedicated to space research initiated by the USSR and the U.S. The biennial General Assembly serves as a crucial platform for scientists to exchange knowledge and collaborate on future space endeavors.

The most recent assembly took place in 2024 in Busan. Upcoming assemblies include Italy in 2026, and then a historic first for the Arab world with the UAE as the host country.

Here are some significant milestones in UAE’s space exploration:

• In 2023, the UAE embarked on the longest Arab space mission with Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who conducted over 200 advanced research experiments.
• The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM), also known as the Hope Mars Mission, marked the UAE's first journey to Mars. Launched in July 2020, the EMM made history on February 9, 2021, when the Hope Probe successfully entered Mars' orbit on its first attempt.
• The UAE's second nanosatellite, DMSat-1, the first nanometric environmental satellite developed by Dubai Municipality in collaboration with MBRSC, was launched in March 2021.