Bahrain Strengthens Artemis Space Cooperation
Bahrain participated in the fifth meeting of Artemis Accords space agency heads in Turkey.
The Kingdom presented proposals to strengthen cooperation among member states.
Artemis Accords membership supports Bahrain’s efforts to develop its national space sector.
The Bahrain Space Agency strengthened its participation in international space cooperation through the fifth meeting of heads of space agencies from Artemis Accords member countries. This meeting was held in Antalya, Türkiye, on the sidelines of the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026).
The Kingdom was represented by Bahrain Space Agency Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mohamed Ebrahim Al-Aseeri and space engineer Yaqoob Al-Qassab.
The high-level meeting focused on the strategic directions of the Artemis partnership, the work of its main working groups and ways to strengthen cooperation among member states. The discussions followed a workshop held earlier this year in Peru.
Dr. Al-Aseeri said Bahrain used the meeting to present proposals aimed at enhancing cooperation among member states and improving the effectiveness of joint efforts.
The Bahraini delegation also provided feedback on working papers submitted by participating countries, offered legal views on new initiatives and reviewed current and future projects to ensure their alignment with the guiding principles of the Artemis Accords.
The meeting comes as the Artemis Accords continue to expand internationally. NASA announced in September that the number of signatories had reached 76 countries, following the addition of Albania, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire and San Marino.
Bahrain signed the Artemis Accords in March 2022, joining the international framework for cooperation in the peaceful and responsible exploration and use of outer space.
The Accords were established in 2020 by NASA and partner countries to promote practical principles for civil space exploration, including activities involving the Moon, Mars and beyond. NASA describes the framework as supporting safe, transparent and coordinated exploration.
For Bahrain, membership provides an avenue to engage with countries and organizations possessing extensive experience, technologies and data in the space sector.
The Bahrain Space Agency has increasingly used international space forums to promote cooperation and develop national capabilities. At IAC 2026, the agency presented 13 projects highlighting its research and development work and efforts to develop and localize advanced space technologies.
Bahrain’s participation also comes amid broader discussions about the future of lunar exploration. At the Global Space Leaders Summit in Antalya, the Bahrain Space Agency outlined its vision for contributing to an emerging lunar economy and stressed the importance of international partnerships, responsible governance and investment in human capabilities.
The latest Artemis meeting therefore reflects Bahrain’s broader efforts to move beyond participation in international space initiatives and build partnerships that can support the Kingdom’s developing space sector.
