His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, said that the UAE’s achievements in technology and space exploration are the fruit of the strategic vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which placed investment in people and knowledge at the heart of the country’s development.

H.E. Al Neyadi noted that the countries that have succeeded in reaching space are those that recognise people as their greatest asset, and have built their capabilities on sustainable foundations.

His Excellency took part in a session titled ‘Beyond the Horizon: How Space Drives the UAE’s Knowledge Economy’, held as part of the Cultural Programme at the 35^th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF). Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) under the theme ‘Turn the Page, Read the World’, the Fair is taking place at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi and is set to run until 18 September 2026.

H.E. Al Neyadi affirmed that the UAE’s connection to space exploration is not a recent one, recalling its beginnings back in the era of the late Sheikh Zayed, who met with the astronauts of the Apollo mission. This reflected the Founding Father’s vision early conviction that science and knowledge would form the foundation of the country’s future.

The UAE’s journey in the space sector spans nearly two decades, His Excellency noted, during which time the Emirates has drawn on global success stories and expertise, developed them further, built its own capabilities, and navigated rapid scientific and technological advancements.

H.E. Al Neyadi spoke about his experience preparing for the ‘Zayed Ambition 2’ mission, which he undertook aboard the International Space Station. He explained that the training lasted five years and covered a wide range of areas, including aviation, space systems, robotics, and survival skills –as part of an integrated exploration programme. He stressed that his journey from being an engineer to astronaut and then a minister has involved continuous learning and challenge.

The Hope Probe project was not simply about reaching Mars, H.E. Dr Al Neyadi remarked, noting that it was also intended to drive a broader national ecosystem, raise ambitions across the industrial and academic sectors, and create opportunities for Emirati talent to contribute to a global scientific project.

He went on to explain that, at the time. the UAE was one of just three countries to launch a mission to Mars at the time, alongside the United States and China. This was a remarkable achievement that demonstrated its ability to enter advanced scientific and technological fields in a relatively short period of time.

The ambition that began with the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has now reached the moon, His Excellency said.

On a related note, H.E. the Minister discussed the link between the knowledge economy and the space economy. He explained that space exploration offers vast economic potential and can become a successful economic sector when properly planned, with applications that can be leveraged across a range of fields, including urban planning, city development, and climate change research, communications, and navigation.

He noted that the development of the satellite industry has opened enabled local and international companies to take part in the sector, develop new technologies, and export their products and services to international markets. This is strengthening the UAE’s presence in the global space sector, he added, as demonstrated by the development of the Mohammed bin Zayed Satellite (MBZ-Sat), with 90% of its components manufactured in the UAE, which reflects the growing strength of the country’s national capabilities in the space industry.

Turning to lunar exploration, H.E. Al Neyadi noted that the Rashid Rover 2 mission will mark a major milestone for the UAE’s space sector. The rover is set to be launched towards the far side of the moon, marking a significant step in the UAE’s efforts to advance its ambitions in lunar exploration.

He stressed that the ecosystem the UAE has built since launching the UAE National Space Programme has created fertile ground for investing in talent, and developing companies, universities, and research centres, thereby turning knowledge into viable products and projects.

H.E. Dr Al Neyadi also delivered a message to the UAE’s youth, stressing that understanding the country’s direction, anticipating emerging realities and developments, and heeding the wise leadership guidance in areas such as artificial intelligence and nanotechnology will open new horizons enabling them to more effectively predict the future and contribute to its  shaping.

The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair features around 1,500 events across three main themes: global culture and civilisational dialogue, innovation and the creation of the future, and the arts and live cultural experiences. The programme brings together exhibitors from 95 countries, along with a distinguished line-up of writers, academics, and artists from around the world.