Chairman of Board of Directors of Saudi Space Commission: Turning Commission into Agency Gives a Boost to Sector

Riyadh, June 14, 2023, SPA – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Space Commission Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha said that the Cabinet’s approval to change the Saudi Space Commission into an agency represents a qualitative leap in the space industry and is bound to stimulate research and innovation, and help achieve the national goals of developing the sector and increasing the Kingdom’s successes toward meeting the targets of the Saudi Vision 2030.
Al-Swaha commended the wise leadership for issuing this decision, which lends further support to the Kingdom's space sector, adding that this development will strengthen the new agency's role in exercising its tasks and implementing space programs.
The decision of the Cabinet, he said, reflects the keenness to keep abreast of modern developments, technology and global knowledge, and is bound to inspire and motivate young people and scientists. A draft bylaw will transform the Saudi Space Commission into the Saudi Space Agency.
The Kingdom witnessed a historic event on May 21 when Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi, the first female Arab Muslim astronaut, and Ali Al-Qarni joined the International Space Station (ISS) to explore opportunities in space and conducted 14 scientific experiments to serve humanity and protect the Earth. After successfully completing this historic mission, the two astronauts returned to Earth on May 31.
The scientific experiments carried out by the two Saudi astronauts confirmed that the growth and development of the space sector cannot take place without the development of other sectors, such as industry, and digital technology and telecommunications. As such, the Cabinet decision regarding the space agency will be in favor of other sectors as well, including industry and technology.
--SPA