• Nasa has discovered water on the sunlit side of the Moon's surface for the first time. Photo: Nasa
    Nasa has discovered water on the sunlit side of the Moon's surface for the first time. Photo: Nasa
  • The Moon during the closest visible conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 400 years, taken in Tejeda, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain in December2020. Reuters
    The Moon during the closest visible conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 400 years, taken in Tejeda, on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain in December2020. Reuters
  • The far side of the Moon remains largely unexplored, but Nasa is turning its focus back to the lunar surface. Photo: Nasa
    The far side of the Moon remains largely unexplored, but Nasa is turning its focus back to the lunar surface. Photo: Nasa
  • A lunar eclipse appears above Wade, North Carolina, through the lenses of an amateur astronomer's 8-inch telescope. AP
    A lunar eclipse appears above Wade, North Carolina, through the lenses of an amateur astronomer's 8-inch telescope. AP
  • SpaceX’s two-person lunar venture would fly 300,000 to 400,000 miles from Earth past the Moon before Earth’s gravity pulls the spacecraft back into the atmosphere for a parachute landing. EPA
    SpaceX’s two-person lunar venture would fly 300,000 to 400,000 miles from Earth past the Moon before Earth’s gravity pulls the spacecraft back into the atmosphere for a parachute landing. EPA
  • A full Moon. Reuters
    A full Moon. Reuters
  • The moon glows red near government buildings in New Delhi. AFP
    The moon glows red near government buildings in New Delhi. AFP

Gulf

Saudi Arabia

Saudi space strategy takes shape with signing of Artemis Accords

Kingdom becomes fourth Middle Eastern nation to join international agreement outlining responsible and peaceful space exploration

Sarwat Nasir
Sarwat Nasir

July 18, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia has become the latest Middle East nation to sign the US-led Artemis Accords, an agreement that outlines peaceful exploration of the Moon and beyond.

The kingdom has become the 21st country — and fourth in the Middle East — to join the Accords, after the UAE, Bahrain and Israel.

The deal was signed last week by Mohammed Saud Al Tamimi, chief executive of the Saudi Space Commission, during a virtual ceremony, also attended by Nasa administrator Bill Nelson.

It was among a number of agreements signed between the US and Saudi Arabia during Joe Biden’s first Middle East trip as US President last week.

10-year space plan

The Accords set international standards of how the Moon should be explored and lists guidelines on activities such as mining on the Moon, releasing scientific data publicly, transparency with the public on policies and providing emergency assistance.

Membership of the treaty is the latest step in a long-term strategy aimed at bolstering the kingdom's status in the global space sector.

In 2020, Saudi Arabia allocated $2.1 billion for its space programme under its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

Saudi Arabia has increased its investment in space over the past three years, with plans to explore the Moon and Mars.

The Saudi Space Commission was established in 2018 with the aim of driving growth in the sector.

The commission has held meetings with a number of space agency partners to increase co-operation, including the US, China and the UK.

Saudi Arabia has a rich history in space exploration, with Prince Sultan bin Salman becoming the first Arab in space in 1985.

He was part of a seven-member international crew aboard Nasa's Discovery space shuttle.

Prince Sultan was named as the first chairman of the commission and served for three years before being appointed special adviser to the king.

He has stated his belief that space exploration will play a vital role in the country's ambitions.

Signing the Artemis Accords paves the way for the kingdom to become part of Nasa’s Artemis programme, which aims to build a sustainable human presence on the Moon and then launch to Mars from there.

The US State Department issued a press release on the signing, which said “Artemis relies on a broad and diverse international coalition”.

“As Accords signatories, state actors advance responsible behaviour in outer space, including through the registration of space objects, deconfliction of activities, release of scientific data, and provision of emergency assistance,” the release said.

“Together, signatories will reduce uncertainty and increase the safety of space operations to facilitate the sustainable use of space to the benefit of all humankind.”

Other signatories include Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Ukraine and the US.

Unresolved crisis

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.

Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.

The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.

While you're here
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

Updated: July 18, 2022, 2:28 PM
Saudi ArabiaSpaceUSNASA