A host of internationally renowned space experts from the US, Europe and the UAE will come to Abu Dhabi next month for the inaugural Global Space Technology Forum.

The first event of its kind in the Middle East, the forum has attracted the space industry’s top government and private sector figures for the three day conference programme which will run from November 16 to 18.

Over thirty high calibre speakers will address a wide range of topics including new space technology and commercial markets, research and development, environment, energy and climate, regional space policy and strategies, defence and security.

Eminent speakers on the first day include Sir Martin Sweeting, chairman, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd; Jean-Yves Le Gall, chairman and CEO, Arianespace; Eric Anderson, CEO and founder of Space Adventures and Yamin Mustafa, managing director, Marsh Limited.

The second day will see speeches by professor Dr Orhan Altan, president of ISPRS, and Dr Majed Al Mansoori - secretary general of the Environmental Agency – Abu Dhabi.

Other speakers include Dr Michael Simpson, president of the International Space University, and Major Dr Mohammed Alahbabi of the UAE Armed Forces who will highlight the UAE’s Yahsat Satellite program.

Speakers on the third day include Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, director general of the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology and Dr Burton Lee, principal of Space Angels Network, Silicon Valley, USA.

“The UAE is increasing efforts to become a serious aviation and aerospace commercial, technical and services hub, and this is reflected by the outstanding calibre of global space experts who will speak at the conference,' stated Nick Webb, director of Streamline Marketing Group, the organiser of the forum.

The Global Space Technology Exhibition will run alongside the conference, providing a unique opportunity for worldwide space industry organisations to highlight their products, services, technologies and capabilities.

This year’s exhibitor line up includes the UAE Space Reconnaissance Centre, Virgin Galactic, Thales Alenia Space, Geo Eye, International Space University, Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, LSE Space Middle East and Global Scan Technologies.-TradeArabia News Service