Saudi Arabia focusing on expanding space capabilities, says Prince Sultan

Saudi Arabia is focusing on expanding its space capabilities after establishing the Saudi Space Agency in December 2018, which shows the Kingdom’s interest in investing in this important industry, the Center for International Communication (CIC) said citing Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Space Agency.

Prince Sultan said this during a meeting last week with Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s Director General of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities and Presidential envoy for international space cooperation for exploratory conversations about the future cooperation of the two countries in the exploration and utilization of outer space.

Also see: Saudi Arabia, Russia look to cooperate in space

During the meeting on Wednesday, they reviewed prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the field of space and the means of developing them.

The Kingdom, he said, is keen on benefiting from leading international expertise, including the advanced Russian experience in space and its surrounding sciences, and building on the advanced efforts of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in partnerships with its international counterparts. That includes research relations and joint operations with Russia.

Prince Sultan noted the broad horizons to be pursued in exploring space and related technologies would benefit Saudi citizens and attract large economic investments to this industry, and benefit humanity.

Rogozin affirmed that Russia is keen on developing relations between the two countries given the Kingdom’s political and economic role as the most important country in the region.