AlMarri's appointment comes just months after the UAE Space Agency announced plans for a new Emirati interplanetary mission.
Dubai Crown Prince and President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued a decision promoting Salem Humaid AlMarri, Deputy Director-General of Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), to the position of Director-General of the centre, effective immediately.
With over 15 years of experience, AlMarri has been responsible for various programmes within the UAE National Space Programme including Mars 2117, Emirates Mars Mission, UAE Astronaut Programme, and the UAE Satellite Programme. AlMarri has also overseen the expansion of MBRSC into new scientific and technical fields alongside ensuring continuous developments in the space sector.
AlMarri received the UAE Pioneers Award in 2014 for being the first project manager of the UAE satellite DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2. He was the head of the bidding team that won the rights to host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Dubai and was also the lead of the organising committee (LOC Chair) for the global event held for the first time in an Arab country in Dubai. AlMarri has represented the UAE and MBRSC in numerous international conferences and organisations worldwide, including the United Nations, the International Astronautical Federation, and others. In 2016, he was elected as the first UAE member of the International Academy of Astronautics.
