International Air and Space Law: Historical Evolution and Contemporary Challenges - Alsayedissa Alhashmi, LL.M.
From the myth of Icarus to the race for Mars, humanity's ascent has always outpaced the law designed to govern it. Today, that gap is wider than ever.
This book offers a comprehensive journey through the legal frameworks that govern the skies and beyond — from the sovereignty doctrines born of two World Wars to the unresolved governance challenges of artificial intelligence in orbit, cislunar economics, and permanent human settlement on other planets. Spanning eighteen chapters, it examines the philosophical foundations of airspace sovereignty, the architecture of the five UN space treaties, the commercialisation revolution transforming the space industry, and the geopolitical competition reshaping international cooperation. A dedicated study of the United Arab Emirates traces the remarkable trajectory of a young nation — from its founding father's encounters with Apollo astronauts to its century-long Mars 2117 vision.
Grounded in treaty law yet alive to the frontiers of practice, this book equips readers with the historical perspective and analytical tools to navigate the most consequential governance challenges of the coming century.
Essential reading for students of international law, aviation professionals, space policy practitioners, and anyone captivated by humanity's enduring determination to rise.
Write your review for this book (optional)
Review Deleted
Your review has been deleted and won’t appear on the book anymore.
Alsayedissa Alhashmi L.L.M
Alsayedissa Alhashmi, LL.M.
Born in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (1966), Alsayedissa Alhashmi is a distinguished Emirati expert in International Air and Space Law. He holds an Advanced LL.M. in International Air and Space Law from Leiden University, the Netherlands, where he completed a research-intensive thesis under rigorous academic and scientific methodology.
With a professional career spanning more than three decades, Dr. Alhashimi has held leadership and supervisory roles across civil and military aviation sectors, encompassing aviation safety management and investigations, government and international contract administration, sovereign contracts, dispute resolution, and arbitration. He brings an integrative perspective that bridges deep technical understanding of aviation operations with precise legal analysis of the international frameworks governing airspace and outer space.
This book represents a national scholarly contribution documenting the historical evolution of International Air and Space Law and analysing its contemporary challenges. It aligns with the forward-looking vision of the United Arab Emirates to consolidate its position as a global hub in aviation, space, and scientific innovation.
Dr. Alhashimi dedicates this work to the United Arab Emirates — its leadership, its people, and its pioneers in aviation and space — in tribute to a nation that has made the sky and outer space horizons for its civilisational ambition.
