For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Decree by Law, the following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:
State: The United Arab Emirates.
Agency: The UAE Space Agency.
Board of Directors: The Board of Directors of the Agency.
Chairman: The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Agency.
Director General: The Director General of the Agency.
 

The Agency is an independent federal public entity, having legal personality and financial and administrative autonomy, as well as the legal capacity necessary to undertake all legal actions necessary to carry out its competences that ensure achievement of its purposes and objectives. The Agency shall report to the Cabinet.

The main headquarters of the Agency shall be in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the Board of Directors may establish branches or other offices within or outside the State.

The Agency shall be competent to exercise all powers, actions, works, and activities necessary to enable it to achieve its purposes and objectives. It may in particular carry out the following:
1. Propose the policies, strategies, and legislation related to the space sector, in coordination with the concerned entities, and supervise their implementation after their approval.
2. Issue approvals and permits for Space Activities and other space-related activities, in accordance with the relevant legislation.
3. Study, approve, and govern the financing process of the National Space Fund for Space Activities and other space-related activities.
4. Establish and manage investment projects in the space sector on an economic basis.
5. Contribute to, participate in, or implement national or international projects in the space sector.
6. Support national and international initiatives that seek to make the outer space environment more sustainable and stable.
7. Support the development of facilities and infrastructure necessary for space sector technologies.
8. Hold and participate in conferences, seminars, and workshops related to the space sector.
9. Provide technical and advisory support to entities related to the space sector in the State, offer advice and guidance to national space programs, and work on addressing the challenges they face.
10. Develop human resources, attract national talent, and support academic activities in the space sector, as well as contribute to providing opportunities for relevant scientific mission through coordination with the relevant entities within and outside the State.
11. Issue publications and prepare media programs necessary to raise awareness about the importance of the space sector.
12. Request any relevant information or data from any person or operator to enable it to carry out its tasks.
13. Conduct specialized studies and research in the fields related to the Agency's competences, including monitoring and analyzing phenomena, risks, and regional and international trends.
14. Represent the State in the conclusion of memoranda of understanding, bilateral or multilateral agreements, and in international and regional organizations, exhibitions, conferences, and other international fora in fields related to space affairs and those falling within the Agency’s competences, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the concerned authorities.
15. Propose the accession to, or signature of, international treaties and agreements related to space affairs and to the Agency’s activities and competences, and propose partnership agreements with the Gulf, regional, and international countries, organizations and authorities related to the activities and competences of the Agency or accession thereto, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the concerned authorities.
16. Establish and organize a comprehensive database of information and data related to the Agency's competences at the State level, in coordination with the concerned authorities, and ensure integration therewith in the exchange of information and data.
17. Any other competences assigned to the Agency in accordance with the laws, regulations, or resolutions issued by the Cabinet.

The Agency shall have a Board of Directors, formed by a resolution of the Cabinet. The formation resolution shall specify the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman, the remuneration of its members, the term of their membership, and the mechanism for holding its meetings and making its decisions.

1. The Board of Directors is the supreme authority competent for the Agency's affairs and shall exercise all the powers and authorities necessary for that purpose. It may, in particular, undertake the following:
    a. Propose policies, strategies, and legislation related to the space sector, in coordination with the concerned authorities, submit them to the Cabinet, and supervise their implementation after their approval.
    b. Adopt the general policy of the Agency, and the strategic plans, programs, and projects necessary for its implementation in accordance with the procedures followed in this regard.
    c. Issue decisions, systems, regulations, and rules related to the organization of Space Activities and other activities related to the space sector in accordance with the legislation regulating this matter.
    d. Approve the draft annual budget and the draft final account of the Agency and submit them to the Ministry of Finance to be included in the general budget law and the final account law.
    e. Approve the draft organizational structure of the Agency and submit it to the Cabinet for approval.
    f. Approve the human resources and procurement regulations specific to the Agency and submit them to the Cabinet for approval.
    g. Adopt the necessary systems, regulations, and work plans for the proper conduct of work in the Agency.
    h. Form permanent or temporary committees and working groups to enable the Agency to carry out its competences and determine their tasks and rules of procedure.
    i. Seek the assistance of whomever it deems appropriate from among experts and specialists to assist it in the performance of its tasks.
    j. Nominate the Director General of the Agency.
    k. Appoint one or more external auditors for the Agency, if the need arises, and determine their remuneration.
    l. Propose the fees for the services provided by the Agency and submit them to the Minister of Finance to be presented to the Cabinet for approval.
    m. Accept donations, gifts, assistance, grants, in a manner consistent with the Agency's competences and in accordance with the legislation in force in this regard.
    n. Any other competence or powers conferred upon it by virtue of the laws, regulations, or resolutions of the Cabinet.
2. The Board of Directors may delegate some of its powers and competences to the Chairman, any of its members, or the Director General, provided that the delegation is in writing and specific.

1. The Agency shall have a Director General at the rank of Undersecretary, appointed by a Federal Decree, upon the proposal of the Board of Directors.
2. The Director General shall exercise the necessary powers and competences to manage the Agency's affairs. and, in particular, the following:
    a. Manage the Agency's operations and supervise its administrative, technical, and financial affairs under the oversight of the Board of Directors and represent it in its relations with third parties and before the judiciary.
    b. Propose the general policy of the Agency, its programs, plans, and projects, and present them to the Board of Directors for approval and supervise their implementation after their approval.
    c. Supervise the preparation of the draft annual budget and the draft final account of the Agency, present them to the Board of Directors for approval, and follow up on the implementation of the budget within the appropriations allocated thereto.
    d. Prepare the organizational structure, submit it to the Board of Directors for approval, and prepare the regulations related to the regulation of the work in the Agency and submit them to the Board of Directors for issuance.
    e. Propose draft laws, decrees, regulations, and resolutions related to the organizational units under its authority, including those related to the regulation and authorization of Space Activities and other activities related to the space sector, and present them to the Board of Directors to take the necessary procedures in respect thereof.
    f. Manage and conclude contracts and agreements related to the objectives and competences of the Agency and to the UAE space sector in accordance with the applicable legislation.
    g. Coordinate with relevant entities within and outside the State on matters related to the work and activities of the Agency.
    h. Propose the systems, regulations, and work plans necessary to ensure the proper conduct of work in the Agency and present them to the Board of Directors for approval.
    i. Follow up on the implementation of the plans, programs, projects, and activities that the Agency supervises, manages, or implements.
    j. Supervise the organizational units under its authority, empower them, monitor their achievements and performance results, and propose the necessary systems and procedures to contribute to improving and developing performance.
    k. Submit periodic reports related to the workflow in the Agency, the achievements, and the realized performance, and present them to the Board of Directors.
    l. Appoint employees and consultants and terminate their services in accordance with the applicable legislation.
    m. Any other duties, competences and powers conferred upon them by virtue of the laws or regulations or assigned thereto by the Board of Directors.
3. The Director General may attend the meetings of the Board of Directors, unless the Board of Directors decides otherwise, and shall have no right to vote on its decisions.
4. The Director General may have a deputy who is appointed by a resolution of the Cabinet based on a proposal from the Board of Directors.
5. The Director General may delegate any of their powers to their deputy or to whomever they deem appropriate from among the senior employees of the Agency, provided that the delegation is in writing and specific.

The financial resources of the Agency shall consist of the following:
1. The annual financial appropriations allocated to the Agency in the State's general budget.
2. The revenues realized by the Agency in return for the services it provides, the permits and approvals it grants, and the activities it undertakes, and in return for the intellectual property rights it owns or co-owns.
3. The revenues realized by the Agency in return for the sale of products.
4. Donations, gifts, grants, and aid provided to the Agency and accepted by the Board of Directors.

The fiscal year shall begin on the first of January and end on the thirty-first of December of each year.

The Agency may collect fees in return for the services it provides, provided that such fees are approved by a resolution of the Cabinet based on the presentation of the Minister of Finance.

The Agency may, in compliance with the legislation in force in the State, sell products for the purposes of promotion, publicity, advertising, and awareness in the space field in accordance with the controls issued by the Board of Directors.

The Agency shall retain its employees, assets, properties, rights, and allocations in the annual budget.

Where no specific provision is stipulated in this Decree by Law, or in the regulations and systems issued in implementation thereof, the human resources, financial, contractual, accounting, and procurement legislation in force in the Federal Government shall apply to the Agency.

Without prejudice to the powers vested in the Cabinet by virtue of the provisions of this Decree by Law, the Board of Directors shall issue the decisions necessary for the implementation of this Decree by Law.

1. Any provision that contradicts or conflicts with this Decree by Law shall be repealed.
2. The regulations and decisions in force at the Agency shall remain effective, until the superseding regulations and decisions are issued in accordance with the provisions of this Decree by Law, and in a manner that does not conflict with its provisions.

This Decree by Law shall be published in the Official Gazette, and shall enter into force from the day following the date of its publication.