Thuraya Honors Former U.S. Astronaut, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, for his Contribution to Space Innovation and Exploration

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, April 1st 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a leading Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) operator hosted its Space Pioneer event in Abu Dhabi last Thursday. The event was under the patronage of Her Excellency, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Development, and was attended by the industry’s top executives, government officials and dignitaries in an evening of networking and education.

The event was a celebration of the UAE’s burgeoning satellite and space industry as well as Thuraya’s milestone achievements in innovating mobile satellite solutions. The event also honored space pioneer and former American astronaut, Dr. Buzz Aldrin, who was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned moon landing in history. As the second man to set foot on the moon, Dr. Aldrin is a symbol of bold innovation in space exploration.

Thuraya’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Etisalat Group, Ahmed Julfar concurs, “Over the last two years, Thuraya has demonstrated resilience and the ability to stay relevant and deliver fantastic results despite challenging market conditions in the satellite sector. Thuraya’s turnaround has been as a result of its focus on innovation. This has enabled the Company to distinguish itself from its competitors while bringing a vital communications service to its customers. To nurture local talent, Thuraya recently launched its Young Innovative Internship Program that aims to develop the potential of young UAE nationals in the pursuit of a career in satellite communications.”

Samer Halawi, Chief Executive Officer of Thuraya said, “We are proud to be part of the UAE’s flourishing satellite industry, which is home to three homegrown satellite operators, Dubai-sat, YahSat and Thuraya. The support and commitment of the UAE government has been tremendous in driving this nation’s space ambitions forward. Thuraya is enjoying a significant turnaround since 2011 and we are proud to have just reported our second consecutive year of double digit revenue growth, even as our MSS competitors are reporting flat or declining results. Pioneering innovation is at the heart of what we do in Thuraya. We look to drive this innovation strategy forward by nurturing young talent through our Young Innovative Internship Program to develop groundbreaking ideas.”

Contacts

Thuraya

Shereen Hanafi, Director of Communications

+971-4-4488-888

corporatecomms@thuraya.com