THE United Arab Emirates has laid out a strategic framework for a newly created space agency.

The strategy aims to integrate various arms of the Gulf federation’s burgeoning space industry.

UAE Space Agency chairman Khalifa Mohammed Thani al-Rumaithi said the space industry will help diversify the country’s economy and create highly skilled jobs for a growing youth population.

He added that the Emirates “is seeking to confirm its status as a spacefaring nation”.

Our #vision: crafting the future of the UAE as a space leader, and inspire future generations for the benefit of the nation and humankind — وكالةالإمارات للفضاء (@uaespaceagency) May 25, 2015

"The UAE Space Agency will work to establish a Space Research Center with an AED 100 million investment" @DrAlahbabi #UAESpace — وكالةالإمارات للفضاء (@uaespaceagency) May 25, 2015

The agency aims to regulate and support the UAE space sector, which includes existing Earth-orbiting satellite programs and plans to send an orbital probe to Mars in 2020.

The National reported the space agency will choose 20 Emirati students to travel overseas as part of the country’s first academic space program.

Director-general Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi said: “The UAE Space Agency is committed to achieving the vision of the nation and the implementation of it’s ambitious strategy within space.

“The UAE will become a shining star on the global map of the space industry, God willing.”