UAE Aid Agency and UAE Space Agency Partner to Strengthen Disaster Response Capabilities
UAE Aid Agency, UAE Space Agency Sign Partnership Agreement to Enhance West Africa’s Disaster Preparedness and Response using Space Technologies.
(DUBAI, August 27, 2026) The UAE Aid Agency and the UAE Space Agency have forged a partnership agreement to bolster disaster preparedness and response capabilities across West Africa through leveraging space-based data and technologies.
Under this initiative, approximately 30 specialists from disaster management entities will be trained in Earth observation, geographic information systems (GIS), and tools offered by the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters. The program aims to facilitate quicker assessment of disaster impacts, enhance decision-making, and enable more effective responses to affected communities.
The agreement was signed during the 22nd Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD 2026), encompassing training on the COS-2 information management system and Charter Mapper, a cloud-based tool.
Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, expressed his commitment to strengthening humanitarian teams’ capabilities for faster and more effective crisis response. He emphasized that this partnership will integrate space-based information and advanced data tools into humanitarian action, enabling specialists to assess risks accurately, understand ground conditions, and support swift recovery for affected communities.
Eng. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, highlighted the agency’s dedication to transforming space capabilities into practical solutions that serve people and communities. He noted that this partnership will empower specialists to utilize space-based data more efficiently, strengthening preparedness, expediting response, and facilitating informed decision-making during disasters.
The program, in collaboration with the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters, the European Space Agency (ESA), Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), and the UN-SPIDER (United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response), will provide practical training to participants on COS-2 and Charter Mapper.
