TAARIQ HALIM (ABU DHABI)
The United Arab Emirates has taken giant leaps during its 53 years of unification.
Committed to advancement and excellence in a wide range of fields both domestically and on the world stage, the country has set its sights even further - taking a giant leap for mankind towards the final frontier - space.
The UAE's ambition to explore space dates back to the 1970s, when the nation's founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, met with the Apollo 17 astronauts - Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt - who had returned from the moon.
The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's vision has been a driving force behind advancing science and technology geared towards space exploration and accumulating knowledge for the good of mankind. The UAE's journey into space exploration gained momentum in 2006 with the establishment of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), marking the nation's first steps toward building its capabilities in this domain.
In 2014, the UAE Space Agency (UAESA) was created, with the aim of developing new space technology and establishing partnerships in the international space sector.
By 2017, the MBRSC unveiled the UAE Astronaut Programme, an initiative inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.
The centre set about building, developing and operating a number of Earth observation satellites, providing imaging services, analysing and studying them, as well as producing data for scientific communities and research centres around the world. Among its satellites are the notable DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2.
In 2018, the MBRSC achieved a major milestone with the development of KhalifaSat, celebrated as the first satellite entirely built by Emirati engineers. Continuing this momentum, the centre has also developed the MBZ-SAT, an advanced satellite expected to launch soon.
The UAE Astronaut Programme reached a historic milestone in 2019 when Hazzaa AlMansoori became the first Emirati astronaut to undertake a scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS), a journey that inspired a nation.
Following in his footsteps, the programme produced other trailblazers, including Sultan AlNeyadi, Mohammed AlMulla, and the first Arab female astronaut, Nora AlMatrooshi, each representing the UAE's growing ambition in space exploration.
In April 2023, the UAE announced a one-year extension to the Emirates Mars Exploration Project, the "Hope Probe", furthering its commitment to learning about the Red Planet.
One of the greatest achievements in the history of the UAE's space programme was celebrated in September 2023, when local astronaut, Sultan AlNeyadi, landed back home after spending six months in orbit on the International Space Station.
AlNeyadi represented the UAE in the "Zayed Ambition 2" space exploration mission, joining the SpaceX Crew-6 aboard the Dragon spacecraft.
The national hero conducted a remarkable 200 scientific experiments and took a captivating seven-hour spacewalk during his mission, which was a historic first for the UAE and the Arab world.
The UAE's space programme thrives on international collaboration, with over 30 bilateral agreements signed with other countries' space agencies, including NASA.
One such partnership is the UAESA's contribution to the Artemis Lunar Gateway programme, a NASA-led international collaboration to establish mankind's first space station around the moon.
Regionally, the UAE has also collaborated with 13 Arab member countries of the Arab Space Cooperation Group, whose objective is to consolidate the expertise and technological capabilities in the Middle East. This culminated in collaboration on the Satellite 813 project.
Looking ahead, the Emirates Lunar Mission - 2024 is set to develop and launch a lunar rover to the Moon, embodying another ambitious step in the UAE's space exploration journey.
On the global stage, the UAE reinforced its commitment to international cooperation on space programmes during the United Nations General Assembly sessions on outer space in November 2024, laying the groundwork for the second Abu Dhabi Space Debate scheduled for December 10-11, 2024 - a forum poised to shape the future of global space policy.