Accord to build UAE's first probe to Mars

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,  Vice-President Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UAE Space Agency and Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST).

Signed at the headquarters of Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, Dubai, the MoU aims to build the first Arab/ Islamic probe to reach Mars. UAE Space Agency is to oversee and finance the seven-year  project which will be handled by a team of Emirati cadre in cooperation with international partners. 

The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairmanship of UAE Space Agency board Dr. Khalifa Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) Mohamed Ahmed Ahmed Al Qamzi and Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman.

On this occasion, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Today we embark on a seven-year journey to develop the knowledge, skills and infrastructure needed to accomplish our goal to reach Mars,” adding that the sky is the limit for our ambitions but that requires a team determined enough to attain this.

Moreover, Sheikh Mohammed said that  "a historic mission lies ahead of us and that such mission will be a national pride, a great Arab achievement, and a valuable contribution to science and humanity."

The UAE entered the global race to explore outer space in July 2014 when the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan unveiled the space agency and announced plans to launch a scientific voyage of discovery to the red planet by 2021. These announcements mark a turning point in the country’s development establishing space technology as a new drive for diversified economic growth. The Mars mission will enrich Emirati capabilities as well as increasing human knowledge about space exploration and distant planets.

The probe will take nine months to make the journey to Mars. By this the UAE will be one of only nine countries with ambitions for Mars. The mission is scheduled to arrive in 2021 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the UAE.

The UAE Space Agency reports to the Cabinet and enjoys financial and administrative independence. It is responsible for organising, supervising and managing the nation’s space sector as well as supporting its contribution to the national economy. The agency works to raise awareness about the importance of space technologies, enhance national capabilities and encourage peaceful application of space research. Further, the agency is to provide technical and advisory support for all stakeholders in the country.

UAE’s investments in space technologies has already exceeded Dh20 billion including satellite data and TV broadcast company Al Yah Satellite Communications, mobile satellite communication company Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications, and Earth mapping and observation system Dubai Sat.

Globally, space technologies are becoming increasingly important to the security and economy of nations, in many cases backed by massive national programmes and establishments. The sector forms an integral part of telecommunications, navigation, broadcasting and climatology. The industry is estimated to US300 billion globally, with annual growth of 8 per cent.

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