Saudi Arabia elected First Vice-Chair of UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

VIENNA — Saudi Arabia has been elected First Vice-Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) during the committee’s session held in Austria. The Kingdom is represented in this position by General Manager of Space Systems and Infrastructure at the Saudi Space Agency Eng. Muryah Al-Shahrani, one of the Kingdom’s distinguished national talents in the space sector. His election is regarded as a milestone that reflects the international community’s confidence in the Kingdom’s growing role in the space sector and its contributions to advancing global space governance. Through his participation in COPUOS and the global DebriSolver competition, Al-Shahrani has contributed to strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in international space governance. He has also played a key role in establishing a national pathway for space sustainability by developing national capabilities in the field of Space Situational Awareness (SSA). The position of First Vice-Chair is a leadership role within the Committee’s Bureau, focused on supporting the management of the Committee’s work, facilitating consensus among member states, and contributing to the development of the international space governance agenda, thereby strengthening international cooperation in the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space. This achievement reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting the United Nations system and reinforcing its presence as a trusted international partner contributing to the development of policies and regulatory frameworks related to the space sector. It also highlights Saudi national talent on the international stage and supports joint efforts to foster consensus among member states. United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) comprises 110 member states and serves as the principal international platform for space governance. The committee works to develop legal and regulatory frameworks and promote international cooperation to ensure the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space, supporting the utilization of space science and technologies at the national, regional, and international levels.