When Dubai brought the world of space exploration to the emirate

Dubai’s hosting of the 72nd international astronautical congress was an overwhelming success, adding further momentum to the city’s burgeoning space sector. We offer a short case study of that event and explore implications for the region. he International Astronautical Congress is an annual event organised by the International Astronautical Federation, held since 1950 to bring all global space actors together and offer them the latest space information and developments in academia and industry, networking opportunities, contacts and potential partnerships. Dubai’s bid for the IAC was led by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), a Dubai government organisation responsible for the UAE space programme. Bidding for the event aligned with its vision is to be a leading, globally recognised centre in the field of space science technological innovation and advanced technology to enrich human knowledge. MBRSC collaborated closely with Dubai Business Events as well as other stakeholders on the bid, and was awarded the congress in 2017. Ultimately taking place 25-29 October 2021, it became the first edition of the congress to be held in person since the start of the pandemic, as well as the first to be organised in an Arab country. Attracting over 5,000 delegates from 110 countries, and 1,500 additional participants during the Public Day, the world’s premier global space event exceeded every expectation by putting together an outstanding programme under the theme: ‘Inspire, Innovate and Discover for the Benefit of Humankind’. The IAC 2021 came to the UAE at a fortuitous juncture, following closely on the heels of the launch of the Emirates Mars Mission (Hope Probe), the Arab world’s first space exploration craft to Mars. 2021 also marked the second anniversary of the return of the first Emirati astronaut from the International Space Station and the third anniversary of the launch of KhalifaSat — the first Earth-observation satellite to be produced wholly by Emiratis. These achievements were symbolic of the commencement of a new era in the region; the IAC 2021 became the opportunity to highlight how space science and technology contribute to a nation’s progress. Eng. Adnan Al Rais – co chair for the Local Organising Committee of the IAC, said: “Hosting IAC 2021 was a knowledge enrichment platform for the youth in the fields of space science and technology. It acted as an accelerator for STEM education, and was a source of enormous pride and inspiration for the next generations who are hoping to participate in the space sector. “The legacy of IAC 2021 was felt across the region, and acted as a catalyst for other nations to establish space centres and agencies.” However, the impact of both the IAC 2021 being hosted in Dubai and the arrival of the Emirates Mars Mission – Hope in the same year sent a strong message that reached beyond the borders of the UAE.