The two-day conference provides an important new global forum for the aerospace industry (Photo: Getty Images)

With a growing number of countries launching space programs and private sector actors developing space capabilities, the UAE has brought together key stakeholders to discuss the future and issues of the space sector.

The Abu Dhabi Space Debate kicked off on December 5 as a platform for space industry leaders and policymakers around the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

It aims to promote global dialogue and cooperation between countries, forge concrete alliances and multilateral agreements, and provide a platform to advance the sector as a whole.

Hosted by the UAE Space Agency, the two-day conference provides an important new global forum for the space industry, nations, business leaders and policymakers to come together and address the issues facing growth and innovation in space.

“We have evolved from the bipolar world of the Cold War and its space race to a multilateral world where some 70 countries have space capabilities, where a rapidly expanding private sector plays an increasing role and where global tensions are among the most valued aspects. our exploration of space,” said Sarah Al Amiri, president of the UAE Space Agency.

The debate comes as rising tensions on Earth have affected space missions (Photo: Getty Images)

The event was attended by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Indian Geosciences Minister Jitendra Singh.

“Borders are disappearing hundreds of miles away,” Herzog said in an address to the rally. “The fate of mankind will depend on space”

Over two days, key players in the space industry will discuss challenges such as space debris, sustainability, security of space infrastructure and the geopolitics of space.

Participants included officials from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the space agencies of Turkey, Sweden, Portugal, Japan, Korea, etc.

Also in attendance were government officials from the United States Department of Defense and executives from private aerospace companies such as Blue Origin.

The debate comes at a time when rising tensions on Earth have hampered space missions.

In July, Russia announced it would leave the ISS program in 2024 to build its own space station.