The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) are set to work together on space research and development, and space data mobilization for disaster management, emergencies, food security, and agriculture, among others, after the two space agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr. and UAESA Director General H.E. Salem Buti Al Qubaisi inked the MOU on 05 December in Abu Dhabi, UAE during the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate. Philippine Ambassador to the UAE H.E. Hjayceelyn M. Quintana and UAESA Executive Director Mr. Ibrahim Al Qasim witnessed the signing. 

“The MOU on space cooperation between PhilSA and UAESA promotes joint space research and development, capacity-building, people-to-people exchange, and space industry-building. It is a pioneering agreement involving our countries and ushers Philippines and UAE relations into a new and exciting frontier. The UAE has been at the forefront of groundbreaking and ambitious missions in space. These inspire us in our efforts to unlock the benefits of space and bring space capabilities to the fore in addressing present and future sustainability challenges we face on Earth. As we bring our peoples together in these endeavors, we can build a stronger foundation for our domestic space ecosystems,” Director General Marciano said.

The MOU seeks to promote various areas of collaboration in space development and applications. Among the areas of cooperation under the agreement are space research and development and access to data; space data utilization for various applications such as climate change, disaster management, and emergency response, food security, and agriculture; scientific missions on space exploration and access to relevant data; capacity-building activities such as joint conferences, workshop, and knowledge sharing activities on space science and technology applications and advancement of space education through student exchange programs and graduate studies; utilization of ground stations and infrastructures; and, promotion of space industry and industrial cooperation. 

In addition, PhilSA and UAESA will benefit from joint conferences, workshops, knowledge-sharing activities on space science and technology applications, and the advancement of space education through student exchange programs and graduate studies.  

PhilSA believes it will bolster stronger ties between the space agencies and maximize the opportunities and potential we can gain from our counterparts.