Under the patronage of His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, General Director of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST), and President of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, SAASST and the University of Sharjah participated in organizing the NASA Space Apps Challenge at the level of the Emirate of Sharjah. This Challenge targets all students and researchers in the fields of sciences, engineering, computing, programming, and design in the United Arab Emirates, and this year it comes under the slogan "Take Action", and a number of institutions and universities from every emirate in the country collaborate in organizing it every year. Participating this year are 27 teams that include 130 students and researchers from each of the emirates of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and the winners will be announced on October 12th. The NASA Space Apps Challenge aims to provide and find solutions to problems related to space missions, the solar system studies, and life on Earth and sustainability. This is using NASA data to inspire cooperation, creativity and critical thinking, enhance interest in Earth and space sciences and exploration, and encourage the growth and diversity of the next generation of scientists, technologists, designers and engineers.

The NASA Space Apps Challenge includes (7) competing categories this year, which are: "Observe" in which participants come up with solutions to make observation data more accessible for use by scientists, decision-makers, and the public; "Inform" and in this category participants are urged to come up with ways to spread scientific and historical information; "Sustain" in which participants come up with solutions to preserve the sustainability of Earth and sustain human life in space; "Create" urges participants to imagine, build, and create awareness solutions; "Confront" asks participants to select an issue whether local, national, or global and propose a solution for it; "Connect" asks participants to examine methods for communicating with one another and facilitating space missions' communications; finally, "Invent Your Own" allows the participants to design their own challenge.

In his speech during the opening ceremony of the Challenge, His Excellency Prof. Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy welcomed the attendees and participants in the Challenge, and expressed his regret that the competition is held using remote communication technologies this year, but stressed the importance of ensuring the health and safety of the participants as part of precautionary measures combating the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Challenge this year, he added, is a testament to the ambition and dedication of the students and researchers of the United Arab Emirates to science and development. In keeping with this year's theme "Take Action," indeed all of you gathered here today took action to participate and share your ideas and abilities in designing space applications that make a difference in some of the pressing sector-related challenges.

The Chancellor then expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, who – through his constant and unlimited support to the University of Sharjah and the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology – got the students and research community accustomed to the unlimited support and sponsorship of the University of Sharjah and SAASST to all research and education initiatives inside the UAE. Both the University and SAASST hope that the next generation of scientists, researchers, engineers, designers, and leaders will push the limits of their imagination and knowledge and innovate creative solutions, technologies, and emerging knowledge that support the local community and international community alike.

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah, he continued, founded the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology as a national development project and research center that seeks to serve and educate society in all areas of space science and to be a world leader in space sciences and technology research while establishing the United Arab Emirates as a scientific center in the Arab Gulf region and the world.

Then His Excellency the Chancellor of the University and the Director General of SAASST addressed the programs offered by the University of Sharjah, being one of the largest universities in the UAE in terms of the number of students, research projects, academic programs accredited by the Ministry of Education and various international accreditation institutions in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, computing and informatics, and others at the Bachelor's, master's and PhD levels. SAASST, he added, also recently launched several master's degree programs in cooperation with a number of colleges at the University, such as the Master of Science in Astronomy and Space Sciences in cooperation with the College of Science, the Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing program in cooperation with the Colleges of Science and Engineering, and the Master of Science in Air and Space Law program in cooperation with the College of Law.

SAASST is also one of the most comprehensive academies in the country and the region covering the fields of education and scientific research in space sciences, astronomy and technology while organizing informative workshops, lectures, seminars and conferences that benefit professionals and amateurs in this field alike.

The NASA Space Apps Challenge judging panel includes Dr. Manar Abu Taleb, Chair of Research Outreach Departmant at the University of Sharjah; Dr. Iman Akour, Head of Information Systems Department at the University of Sharjah's College of Computing and Informatics; Mr. Marwan Shwaiki, Deputy General Director of SAASST for the Planetarium and Space Exhibitions; Prof. Nidhal Guessom, American University of Sharjah; Ms. Dhina Halabi, Space Scientist Cambridge University; Ms. Lamiaa Nail, Content Manager for the Arab Science Week; and Mr. Mahmoud Salah, Artificial Intelligence Mentor at Udacity.