The UAE will send the Arab world’s first mission to the moon by 2024, it was announced on Saturday at the launch of the new Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre 2021-2031 strategy.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reviewed and approved the 10-year strategy that aims to enhance innovation in the national space sector, and includes programmes for developing new specialised satellites and an outer space simulation centre for training, academic and educational programmes.
"The UAE's ambition in the space sector to explore, plan and make the future. Our youth, engineers and pioneers open new horizons in the science, technology and innovation fields in this vital sector for the future of our world,” tweeted His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“Its future programmes for training national cadres in the space sector and building satellites will be supported by knowledge, data and innovations academic and scientific research institutions in the Arab world and the world for the benefit of mankind."
The strategy includes the UAE National Space Programme and covers the five basic components of the Emirates Mars Exploration Project ‘Hope Probe' 2117 Strategy, the UAE Astronaut Programme, the Satellite Development Programme, and the UAE Space Sector Sustainability Programme.