Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed unveiled the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt probe today.
The high‑profile ceremony took place in Dubai, where His Highness, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, introduced a spacecraft that was designed, assembled and tested entirely within the UAE.
Guided by the vision of our leadership, the UAE has progressed in just a few years from aspiring to reach space to actively contributing to shaping its future,
— Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai
The probe reached flight‑ready status in less than two years, a timeline the Crown Prince said reflects the strength of Emirati talent and the nation’s research, development and manufacturing ecosystem.
It will ride aboard the MBR Explorer, the UAE’s second interplanetary mission, and set off on a journey of roughly 5 billion kilometres.
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Probe development and mission profile
Engineers and scientists from the UAE Space Agency, the Technology Innovation Institute and HEX20 collaborated to create a probe capable of autonomous descent. The team of more than 150 specialists completed integration and testing within the tight schedule, demonstrating the country’s growing industrial capacity.
The mission will visit seven asteroids before reaching 269 Justitia, where the probe will separate from the spacecraft and descend to the asteroid’s surface without human intervention. This autonomous landing marks a new milestone for the UAE’s deep‑space ambitions.
UAE space sector growth and future goals
According to Sheikh Hamdan, the UAE space sector now exceeds Dh44 billion. By 2031 the nation aims to double the returns of the space economy, boost added value by 60 percent and rank among the world’s top ten space economies.
The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt is funded and overseen by the UAE Space Agency, which continues to build on achievements such as the Hope Probe around Mars and Emirati astronauts on the International Space Station. The Crown Prince highlighted that these projects are part of a broader strategy to invest in Emirati talent, technology and advanced industries for the benefit of the economy and humanity.