His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), said the Centre is committed to realising the UAE’s vision to raise the Arab region’s profile as a prominent player in the global space industry by undertaking ambitious projects that will bring enduring benefits to humanity.

HH Sheikh Hamdan made these remarks at a meeting of the MBRSC Board of Directors chaired by him. During the meeting, His Highness was briefed about the Centre’s ambitious missions and future programmes.

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“In the next phase of our journey, we are set to implement exceptional projects that will open new horizons for space exploration. The UAE’s rapidly advancing space sector is poised to evolve into a significant global contributor in the field, drawing from the rich expertise, knowledge and strategic partnerships we have acquired through unique initiatives and missions,” His Highness said.

“The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) is a pivotal contributor to the UAE’s space programme, and we remain committed to enhancing the nation’s stature as a key player in shaping the future of space exploration in line with the leadership’s vision. Our goal is to unearth new data and gain knowledge and insights that will bring benefits not just for our nation but also for the region and the global community,” His Highness noted.

“The UAE has set high standards for space excellence and will continue to launch ambitious missions that resonate with our leadership’s vision to advance our nation’s role as an innovator and trailblazer in the region and the world,” he added.

Updates on programmes and missions
During the meeting, HH Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on MBRSC’s latest accomplishments, including the success of the longest Arab space mission, led by UAE astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi and the UAE’s collaboration with international space agencies and leading local and international universities. The mission included over 200 experiments that reflected the nation’s commitment to exploring space and science for the benefit of humankind.

The meeting also discussed next steps for the UAE Astronaut Programme, and the training of astronauts Mohammad AlMulla and Nora AlMatrooshi who were selected to train alongside 10 NASA astronauts. AlMulla and AlMatrooshi will be ready for space missions upon their graduation from the programme in 2024.

HH Sheikh Hamdan reviewed the latest satellite building projects, which aim to design, build and operate advanced earth-monitoring satellites, including the MBZ-SAT, which upon its launch next year will be the most advanced commercial satellite in the region in the field of high-resolution satellite imagery. With 90% of its mechanical structure and 50% of its electronic modules built locally, MBZ-SAT will be the second satellite to be built entirely by Emirati engineers, following KhalifaSAT.

His Highness was also briefed on the progress of the Rashid Rover 2 project, the UAE’s latest mission to the moon, which was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in April 2023. The mission will build on the achievements of the previous project to design and build the world’s most compact rover ‘Rashid Rover’, which became the first Emirati and Arab rover to reach the lunar orbit before the landing attempt onboard iSpace’s HAKUTO-R lander.

The board meeting also discussed the satellite Payload Hosting Initiative, a joint effort by MBRSC and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) to advance capacity-building and promote space science and technology in developing countries. The initiative is a valuable opportunity to demonstrate innovation and new technology.