- ARAB NEWS
- 22 Aug 2026
Since 1975
VIENNA: Saudi Arabia has been elected first vice-chair of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), a senior leadership position that underscores the Kingdom’s growing influence in the global space sector and international space governance.
The appointment was announced during the committee’s latest session in Vienna and was reported by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia will be represented in the role by Muryah Al-Shahrani, general manager of Space Systems and Infrastructure at the Saudi Space Agency. Al-Shahrani is regarded as one of the Kingdom’s leading space specialists and has contributed to international initiatives on space governance, including participation in COPUOS activities and the global DebriSolver competition focused on addressing space debris challenges.
He has also played a key role in developing Saudi Arabia’s national capabilities in Space Situational Awareness (SSA), a field critical to monitoring and managing activities in Earth’s increasingly congested orbital environment.
The first vice-chair position forms part of the five-member Bureau that guides the work of COPUOS and its subsidiary bodies. The Bureau helps manage committee proceedings, facilitate consensus among member states and shape discussions on international policies governing the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space.
Established by the UN General Assembly in 1959, COPUOS is the principal international forum for cooperation in space affairs and currently comprises 110 member states. The committee works to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework governing outer space while promoting international collaboration in space science, technology and exploration.
The committee meets annually in Vienna to discuss issues ranging from space debris, orbital safety and space weather to asteroid threats, climate monitoring, satellite navigation systems and the development of international space law.
Its work is supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, which oversees scientific, technical, legal and policy aspects of international space activities.
Saudi officials said the election reflects international confidence in the Kingdom’s contributions to the space sector and its support for the United Nations system. The appointment also highlights Saudi efforts to strengthen international cooperation and advance sustainable and peaceful uses of outer space.
The Kingdom has expanded its space ambitions in recent years through investments in research, satellite technologies, astronaut programs and international partnerships, positioning itself as an increasingly active player in the global space economy.
