The UAE is shifting its space strategy away from short, headline-grabbing missions toward a long-term, sustainable presence beyond Earth, with plans to train a new generation of astronauts skilled in artificial intelligence for future Moon and Mars missions.
From Short Missions to Long-Term Presence
Major Hazzaa Al Mansouri, the UAE’s first astronaut, said the country is moving from temporary space visits to long-term settlement, anchored in a 15-year commitment to NASA’s Lunar Gateway and the broader Mars 2117 strategy. He said this next phase demands a fundamental rethink of astronaut training and international collaboration.
Why AI Is Central to Future Missions
Al Mansouri highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in deep-space environments where real-time communication with Earth is not possible, noting that astronauts aboard the International Space Station are already working with AI-supported models to aid decision-making. He said future Emirati astronauts will need to understand and work alongside AI systems for missions to the Moon and Mars.
Building on a Decade of Milestones
The UAE Space Agency points to a string of achievements over the past decade, including KhalifaSat, Hazza Al Mansouri’s historic 2019 ISS mission, the Hope Probe reaching Mars orbit in 2021, and Sultan Al Neyadi’s six-month ISS stay in 2023, the longest Arab space mission in history. The agency is now advancing the MBR Explorer mission to the asteroid belt and working toward sending the first Emirati astronaut to the Moon.
A Wider Regional Space Ecosystem
The UAE’s deep-space ambitions are increasingly being paired with regional infrastructure, including Oman’s push to build the Arab world’s first commercial spaceport through its Etlaq launch project. Officials frame this combination of UAE scientific missions and regional launch capability as part of capturing a larger share of the global space economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UAE’s Mars 2117 strategy?
It is a long-term UAE vision aiming to establish a human settlement on Mars within 100 years.
Why is AI training important for future UAE astronauts?
Deep-space missions to the Moon and Mars require astronauts to work with AI systems due to communication delays with Earth.
What was Sultan Al Neyadi’s key achievement?
He completed a six-month ISS mission in 2023, the longest Arab space mission in history.
