UAE Showcases Space Innovation at Expo 2025 Osaka with Space42 at the Helm
The UAE is turning heads at Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai with its 'Explorers of Space' platform, a centerpiece of the country's pavilion that captures its bold journey from Earth to orbit.
From Mars missions to lunar landings, the exhibit reflects the nation's growing influence in global space exploration.
Spearheading the platform is Space42, the UAE's leading space technology company and official partner of the Space Explorers zone. The firm has curated an immersive experience highlighting past milestones like the Emirates Mars Mission and the Rashid Rover, as well as future asteroid missions and space-tech innovations.
Space42's involvement underscores its broader mission to merge satellite communications, AI, and geospatial analytics into practical solutions. 'Our support reflects the UAE's evolution from a rich cultural legacy to a frontier of discovery,'
said Sulaiman Al Ali, Chief Commercial Officer at Space42.
The pavilion's theme, 'From Earth to Ether,' mirrors this vision, emphasizing how space technologies can deliver real-world benefits. Space42 currently operates a satellite network spanning over 150 countries, supporting everything from disaster response to next-gen mobility through its flagship Thuraya-4 and Foresight constellation.
A standout feature of the exhibit is a handcrafted rocket sculpture made from palm fronds (khoos), woven by Emirati artisans. Blending tradition with innovation, the piece symbolizes the country's ambition to reach space while staying rooted in its heritage.
With Expo 2025 offering a global platform, Space42 aims to deepen international partnerships—particularly with Japan—while advancing its mission to make space solutions more accessible, relevant, and impactful on Earth.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
a day ago
UAE Enforces Midday Break to Protect Outdoor Workers Starting June 15
The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has confirmed the return of the annual Midday Break, banning outdoor work between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm from 15 June to 15 September 2025. Now in its 21st year, the regulation aims to safeguard workers from heat-related health risks during peak summer temperatures. The Midday Break aligns with the UAE's commitment to international occupational safety standards and sustainable labour practices. It mandates employers to provide shaded rest areas, cooling equipment, drinking water, and first-aid supplies to workers during the restricted hours. 'This initiative reflects the UAE's deeply rooted social and humanitarian values,' said Mohsin Ali Al Nassi, Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection & Compliance at MoHRE. 'With over 99% compliance in recent years, the private sector continues to demonstrate strong awareness of worker welfare.' Dalal Alshehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Protection, praised the private sector's efforts, noting that many companies now offer fully equipped rest facilities. 'The Midday Break is a model of cooperation between government, businesses, and the wider community,' she said. Certain essential or technically sensitive jobs—such as infrastructure repairs or tasks requiring uninterrupted execution—are exempt from the rule but still require permits and adherence to safety measures. To ensure compliance, MoHRE will carry out inspections and field visits while encouraging the public to report violations. Offenders face fines of AED5,000 per worker, up to AED50,000 for multiple breaches. The Midday Break continues to play a vital role in protecting the UAE's diverse workforce and promoting a safe, responsible work environment during the harsh summer months. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Economy ME
2 days ago
- Economy ME
GCC financial markets hit nearly $4.2 trillion in capitalization in 2024, marking 0.7 percent growth
The overall composite index of financial markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries experienced a modest growth of 0.7 percent in 2024. This index serves as a reflection of the performance of GCC financial markets as a cohesive entity, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. By the conclusion of 2024, the total market capitalization of GCC financial markets reached approximately $4.2 trillion, as per the latest statistics released by the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat). However, this total market capitalization faced a decline of 4.4 percent compared to the close of 2023. In 2024, the market capitalization of GCC financial markets represented roughly 3.5 percent of the total global market capitalization. In May 2025, the Consumer Price data published by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf ( GCC-Stat ) revealed that the general inflation rate in the GCC countries rose by 1.7 percent at the end of December 2024, compared to the figures recorded in the same month of the previous year. The increase in the annual general inflation rate in the Gulf is largely attributed to a 5.9 percent rise in housing prices and a 2.8 percent increase in the prices of goods and services. The culture and entertainment sector experienced a 1.8 percent rise, while both the food and beverages sector and the education sector increased by 1.2 percent each. The restaurants and hotels sector saw a 1.1 percent increase, and the health sector edged up by 0.1 percent. Read more: GCC countries contribute over 35 percent of all emerging-market U.S. dollar debt in Q1 2025, Fitch reports GCC inflation dynamics This inflation was counterbalanced by a 2.7 percent decline in prices within the transportation sector, 1.7 percent in furniture and household equipment, 1.1 percent in tobacco, 0.9 percent in communications, and 0.2 percent in clothing and footwear. The overall inflation rate in the Gulf was also lower than the inflation rate in the European Union, which stood at 2.7 percent, and was beneath that of many of the GCC's major trading partners in total merchandise imports. Brazil recorded the highest inflation rate in December 2024 compared to the figures from the same month in the previous year, at 4.8 percent. Following Brazil was Japan at 3.6 percent, then the Republic of India and the United Kingdom at 3.5 percent each, the United States at 2.9 percent, Germany at 2.6 percent, South Korea at 1.9 percent, and both France and Italy at 1.3 percent each, with China at 0.1 percent. The GCC banking sector posted a net profit of $15.6 billion during the first quarter of 2025, up 7.1 percent quarterly and 8.6 percent annually. This growth marked a new record high for the sector, despite a decline in net interest income during the quarter. However, growth was mainly driven by higher non-interest income, lower operating expenses as well as a sharp seasonal decline in impairments during the quarter. GCC banking sector profits hit record $15.6 billion in Q1 2025 The GCC banking sector reported a net profit of $15.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a quarterly increase of 7.1 percent and an annual rise of 8.6 percent. This growth set a new record high for the sector, even in the face of declining net interest income during the quarter. The increase was primarily fueled by higher non-interest income, reduced operating expenses, and a significant seasonal drop in impairments during the period. According to the latest report from Kamco Invest , the decrease in net interest income was influenced by rate cuts implemented in the second half of 2024. The aggregate yield on credit for the GCC banking sector fell by 5 basis points to 4.16 percent in Q1 2025, down from 4.21 percent in Q4 2024.
3 days ago
OPEC+ to Cut Oil Production by 411,000 Barrels Per Day in July 2025
Eight OPEC+ member countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the UAE, will modestly increase oil production by 411,000 barrels per day in July 2025, citing stable global economic conditions and strong market fundamentals. The decision follows a virtual meeting held on 31 May 2025, where the group reviewed market trends and reaffirmed their gradual return strategy for the 2.2 million barrels per day of voluntary cuts announced in 2023. The move aligns with the plan agreed upon on 5 December 2024 to begin phased adjustments starting April 2025. The July increase marks the third step in a scheduled series of monthly hikes. However, OPEC+ emphasized that the pace of adjustments remains flexible and could be paused or reversed based on market shifts. This approach, the group noted, aims to uphold market stability while allowing time to compensate for past overproduction. The participating countries—Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman—reiterated their commitment to the Declaration of Cooperation and pledged full compliance with production targets. They also reaffirmed their intention to offset any excess output since January 2024. Monthly reviews will continue, with the next meeting set for 6 July 2025 to determine August output levels. News Source: Emirates News Agency
