Omran Sharaf
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name in Arabic | عمران شرف |
| Known for | Project director, Emirates Mars Mission (Hope Probe) |
| Education | BSc Electrical Engineering, University of Virginia, 2005; MSc Science and Technology Policy, KAIST, 2013 |
| Current role | Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Advanced Science and Technology, with the rank of ambassador, since 2022 |
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM): President appoints Omran Sharaf Assistant Minister for Advanced Science and Technology (7 September 2022)1
Career
At the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Sharaf developed, launched and operated projects, and was responsible for the command and data handling subsystem of the DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2 satellites, as well as being a systems engineer on them.1
In September 2022 the President appointed him to the UAE Diplomatic and Consular Corps with the rank of ambassador and as Assistant Minister for the Advanced Science and Technology portfolio. He received the Pride of the Emirates medal within the Mohammed Bin Rashid Government Excellence Award.1
The Hope Probe
The Hope Probe entered Mars orbit at 7:42 pm on 9 February 2021 after a seven-month journey of 493 million km. During the 27-minute orbital insertion, its six Delta V thrusters cut its speed from 121,000 km/h to 18,000 km/h. It was the first Arab interplanetary mission.2
Sources
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): President appoints Omran Sharaf Assistant Minister for Advanced Science and Technology (7 September 2022)
- Emirates News Agency (WAM): Hope Probe successfully arrives to Mars (9 February 2021)
Facts checked 22 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information.