By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Angola and the United Arab
Emirates have moved to strengthen cooperation in the space sector following the
signing of a Letter of Intent between the Angolan Space Program Management
Office (GGPEN) and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency.
The agreement was signed on
Thursday, September 25, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on the sidelines of
the Africa Space Expo (ASPEX) 2026, where Angola is participating as the Guest
Country of Honor.
The Letter of Intent was
signed by GGPEN Director General Dr. Zolana Rui João and Director General of
the United Arab Emirates Space Agency, Eng. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi.
The agreement establishes a
framework for strengthening cooperation between Angola and the United Arab
Emirates in the peaceful uses of outer space, while creating opportunities for
collaboration in space sciences, technologies and applications.
The signing ceremony was
witnessed by Angola’s Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies
and Social Communication, Eng. Mário Oliveira, who is in Abidjan as part of
Angola’s participation in ASPEX 2026.
Also present were RASCOM
Director Timothy Ashong and directors of the space agencies of South Africa,
Dubai, Senegal and Nigeria.
The two sides identified
several potential areas of cooperation, including access to and exchange of
satellite data and information, as well as the development of Earth Observation
applications and services focused on national and regional priorities.
The Letter of Intent also
provides for potential collaboration in the development of satellites and
related technologies, alongside research, innovation and joint technical
initiatives.
The cooperation is expected
to contribute to the strengthening of the respective national space programmes
of Angola and the United Arab Emirates, while creating opportunities for
knowledge sharing, capacity building and technological development.
