Thousands expected to attend world’s largest space conference in Dubai

‘Major announcements’ expected at October’s International Astronautical Congress, the first time an Arab country is hosting the event since its inception in 1950

Dubai is set to host the International Astronautical Congress, the world's largest space conference, from October 25 to October 29 at Dubai's World Trade Centre. Officials from the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and the International Astronautical Federation, organisers of the congress, held a briefing on May 18 to give a sneak peak into the event. Antonie Robertson / The National

Yousuf Al Shaibani, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre said Dubai is ready to host the event. Antonie Robertson / The National

International Astronautical Congress president professor Pascale Ehrenfreund said it was 'exciting' that an Arab nation is hosting the event for the first time. Antonie Robertson / The National

Salem Al Marri, deputy director general of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said Covid-19 safety measures will be in place to welcome more than 3,000 visitors to the event. Antonie Robertson / The National

It was also said during the media briefing that the International Astronautical Congress contacted leading space figures such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to attend the congress. Mr Musk has attended two of the previous events. Antonie Robertson / The National

The UAE's new astronauts, Mohammed Al Mulla and Nora Al Matrooshi, will also be attending. Courtesy: Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

Maj Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati man in space, and Sultan Al Neyadi will also attend. School pupils and university students are encouraged to attend during the open day to meet the astronauts and see the exhibition. Reem Mohammed / The National

Space officials said the UAE is ready to host the world’s largest space conference this October, after the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the event last year.

More than 3,000 visitors are expected in person to attend the 72nd International Astronautical Congress at Dubai World Trade Centre from October 25 to October 29, including heads of space agencies, astronauts and other professionals.

The event organiser, the International Astronautical Federation, said it contacted Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos – who made appearances at previous congresses – to attend the event and are awaiting a response. Mr Musk is the founder of Space X, while Amazon chief Mr Bezos has a rocket company called Blue Origin.

The two new Emirati astronauts, Nora Al Matroushi and Mohammed Al Mulla, and the first two astronauts, Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, will also attend.

Officials from Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre and IAF spoke on Tuesday about the event and said major announcements about the UAE space sector were expected.

It is the first time an Arab country is hosting the congress, which began in 1950. Dubai won the bid to host the event in 2016, after submitting a proposal to the IAF.

Hazza Al Mansouri, first Emirati man in space, wears a 130 kilogram-heavy extravehicular activities suit for spacewalk training. All photos courtesy of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre

The suit is worn during spacewalks outside of the International Space Station and for training at the world's largest indoor pool at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas

Located at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL), the indoor pool is 12-metres deep and has 2.4 million litres of water. It helps simulate microgravity and allows astronauts to work on a replica of the International Space Station placed underwater

Sultan Al Neyadi, part of the UAE astronaut corps, wears his EVA suit for spacewalk training in the indoor pool

Sultan Al Neyadi puts his helmet on for spacewalk training under water. Mr Al Neyadi was one of two people selected from 4,022 candidates to become the first Emirati astronauts. Mbrsc

Mr Al Neyadi prepares to go underwater

Mr Al Neyadi goes underwater with his EVA suit on for spacewalk training

Astronauts can spend up to 10 hours per day at the bottom of the pool to practise maintenance work on the space station model and refine spacewalk techniques.

An Emirati astronaut underwater, refining his spacewalk technique. Performing a spacewalk is an extremely dangerous task and requires practise and skill. In 2013, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano nearly drowned when water leaked into his helmet during a spacewalk. In 2019, Nasa astronaut Chris Cassidy’s wrist mirror broke off, releasing thousands of pieces of space junk

The Emirati astronauts are training for long-haul space missions at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. They are also training on T-38 jets, which helps a pilot experience seven G-forces because of the speed. It can fly up to Mach 1.6 and 12,000 metres high – that is 3,000m higher than average airliners.

"For 72 years, this event has mainly been held in the US, Europe and Asia. This is the first time it comes to an Arab country," Salem Al Marri, deputy director general of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, told The National on the sidelines of the press conference.

“I think that’s very significant for us because it showcases what the UAE has really achieved in the last 20 years.”

Prof Pascale Ehrenfreund, the IAF president, said it was “exciting” that an Arab nation is hosting the event for the first time.

She said the UAE had become an active space country, with many achievements under its belt, including sending the first Emirati astronaut to space, the Hope probe to Mars and an upcoming Moon mission.

"I think everybody is very excited to come here," Prof Ehrenfreund told The National.

“When you’re coming into new regions and have this large space gathering of thousands of people coming from space agencies, the space industry, universities, research organisations, you can also build new co-operations.”

What’s expected at the congress?

The congress will feature themed plenary events, keynote lectures, discussions, workshops, a networking forum and a space science exhibition.

It is also a platform on which partnerships are built and space deals signed, and where space agencies and private companies present new projects or missions.

“When you’ve got these large companies and big space agencies coming, there’s potential for countries to sign agreements and that usually happens at IAC,” Mr Al Marri said.

He said there were also plans for the UAE to make major announcements at the event.

Mr Al Marri encouraged pupils and university students to attend the forthcoming congress open day.

“We get 5,000 people coming locally and globally and they tend to be space professionals, but there is an open day where university students and kids can come in,” he said.

“They can meet the astronauts, participate in sessions, see the exhibitions and learn exciting aspects related to physics and math.

“This would be the perfect time for the youth to see the global space community in one place.”

Covid-19 safety measures

Mr Al Marri said the space centre has been working with health authorities to ensure safety measures are in place.

More than 70 per cent of the UAE population has been inoculated but thousands of visitors from other countries are expected.

“Our objective is that we follow all of the government procedures that are currently publicly outlined,” said Mr Al Marri.

He said safety measures similar to those at the Gulfood and Arabian Travel Market trade fairs would be followed, such maintaining space between exhibition stands and other social distancing protocol.

“We are working very closely with the Dubai World Trade Centre, with our partners in Dubai Tourism and Dubai Health Authority, to make sure that we follow these guidelines,” he said.

Some elements of the congress will be held online, but IAF officials said it will “mainly be an in-person event”.

Registration to attend IAC in Dubai can be done online.

Arabian Travel Market at Dubai World Trade Centre - in pictures

A raft of measures to support the hospitality sector were set out at Dubai's Arabian Travel Market 2021, including a one-month trial to ease Covid-19 rules for bars, restaurants and live venues. Antonie Robertson / The National

The 2021 Arabian Travel Market exhibition opened at the World Trade Centre in Dubai on May 16. Antonie Robertson / The National

Top industry leaders, ministers, airline executives and hoteliers will meet during the four-day event. Antonie Robertson / The National

Organisers say it is the first in-person travel and tourism event in the world since the onset of the pandemic. Antonie Robertson / The National

This year's event comes at a crucial time as the global aviation and tourism industry battles the Covid-19 pandemic. Antonie Robertson / The National

A man makes handicrafts at the Saudi Arabia stand at Arabian Travel Market exhibition. Antonie Robertson / The National

Coffee is served at the Saudi Arabia stand at Arabian Travel Market. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Emirates Airlines stand at Arabian Travel Market. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Saudi Arabia stand at Arabian Travel Market. Antonie Robertson / The National

This year's exhibition is being held under the theme "A new dawn for travel and tourism". Antonie Robertson / The National

The Morocco stand at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors at the Expo 2020 Dubai stand at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors tour some of the exhibition stands at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National

This year's event will focus on the current state of the industry, progress on vaccines and future trends. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors at the Abu Dhabi stand look at a model of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors tour the Dubai exhibit at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National

An artisan makes handicrafts at the Saudi Arabia stand at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National

Visitors at the Saudi Arabia stand. Pawan Singh / The National

The Egypt stand at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National.

The Dubai stand, with a model of Burj Khalifa in the foreground, at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National.

The Expo 2020 Dubai stand at the Arabian Travel Market. Delayed from last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Expo 2020 Dubai opens on October 1. Pawan Singh / The National.

Visitors explore the Expo 2020 Dubai stand at Arabian Travel Market. Pawan Singh / The National.