The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched its space agency to accelerate space programmes, including Earth-orbiting satellite missions and the 2020 mission to Mars.

The new space agency announced last year will lead, regulate and coordinate the growing space sector in the region.

UAE Space Agency chairman Khalifa Mohammed Thani al-Rumaithi was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: "The UAE is seeking to confirm its status as a space faring nation."

"The UAE is seeking to confirm its status as a space faring nation."

The OPEC member intends to launch an academic space programme, which will comprise Yahsat, Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Institute and the US aerospace firm Orbital ATK.

The strategic framework also outlined plans to establish a space research centre.

Named Hope, the Emirati’s first Mars mission is under development with around 75 Emirati engineers working on the project.

The Hope mission will study Mars’ atmosphere and its changes over time to evaluate the impact of volcanoes, deserts and canyons on its surface.

The country’s first commercial satellite was launched in 2000 by Thuraya, a satellite phone operator. Its first government-backed satellite, DubaiSat-1, was lifted-off in 2009.