H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Monday, announced that the UAE has been an active member of the second category of the International Astronomical Union, IAU, represented by the Sharjah Centre for Space and Astronomy at the University of Sharjah.

The membership was presented at the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union, which was attended by representatives of 92 countries from around the world. Sheikh Sultan affirmed that the selection of the UAE was unanimous.

The Sharjah Ruler explained that the announcement came on the sidelines of the 30th International Conference of the IAU, held in the Austrian capital, Vienna, two days ago. It was attended by more than 3,500 scientists, researchers and specialists in the fields of space and astronomy.

Sheikh Sultan appointed Prof. Dr. Hamid Al Nuaimi, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, to attend the conference, who in turn conveyed to him the news of this win through an official letter received from the Secretary-General of the IAU, Professor Piero Benvenuti.

Sheikh Sultan said that the UAE winning this membership of the second category, officially means that it has the right to vote twice on any decision to be proposed in this international federation, and this right is given depending on the strength, location and size of the assets, facilities, equipment and activities related to space, as well as cadres of scientists, researchers and specialists in space science and astronomy.

He added that the countries classified as the first category are of lesser importance in the membership of the IAU and are given the status of "observer" only.

On this important international occasion, which reflects the distinguished scientific status of the University of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan congratulated the people of the United Arab Emirates for the new scientific achievement of the emirate of Sharjah, which embodies the status of the Arab and Islamic nation, and its history in the fields of space and astronomy, especially as it confirms that the oldest global astronomical union in the world was founded in Paris in 1919.