Top 100 Arabs 2025

19. Salem Humaid Al Marri

Director general, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC)

Origin: UAE

Residence: UAE

Sector: Space

2024 Rank: 18

Al Marri’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing the nation’s space initiatives, including the Mars 2117 project, the Emirates Mars Mission, the UAE Astronaut Programme, and the UAE Satellite Programme. In 2025, under AlMarri’s guidance, MBRSC achieved significant milestones.

The successful launch of Etihad-SAT enhanced the UAE’s Earth observation capabilities by providing high-resolution images in all weather conditions. Additionally, the launch of MBZ-SAT, fully developed by Emirati engineers, marked a transformative step in the nation’s space exploration journey.

Al Marri’s focus on fostering global partnerships — such as the agreement between NASA and MBRSC to provide an airlock for Gateway, the first space station to orbit the Moon—has propelled the UAE to a strong position in the global space sector.

Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri

Lubna Suliman Olayan