President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a federal order appointing Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi as the next director-general of the UAE’s national space agency.
UAE Space Agency director-general Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi steps down to make way for Al Qubaisi. Federal agencies, such as this one, monitor and regulate UAE’s space sector. Deputy Minister of State for Advanced Technology Sarah Al Amiri serves as the agency’s chairwoman.
Choosing Al Qubaisi was “in accordance with the UAE government’s aims for the country’s 50-year plan, which include enhancing public sector performance and revising policies,” according to Emirate News Agency.
After serving in the UAE Armed Forces, Al Qubaisi will now “lead the agency’s efforts to develop space sciences and advanced technologies, set up related regulations and policies, establish bilateral and multilateral international partnerships, and promote national capabilities,” according to The National, an English newspaper published in the UAE.
In electrical and electronic engineering, Al Qubaisi has a bachelor’s degree from California State University Sacramento and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington,
