The UAE has achieved a major milestone in its space programme with the successful test launch of its first fully homegrown hybrid rocket, developed by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII).
The sounding rocket was launched at 12:21pm on Friday from a remote island off Abu Dhabi, reaching an altitude of approximately 3 kilometres before safely descending using a parachute recovery system.
Weighing around 13kg, the rocket completed a full mission cycle, including lift-off, ascent, descent, and recovery. Officials confirmed that the vehicle reached speeds of nearly 1,100 km/h, while maintaining structural integrity under real flight conditions.
The successful parachute deployment and recovery of key components were described as critical to the mission, enabling engineers to retrieve flight data and assess system performance for future development.
Sounding rockets, commonly used for research purposes, travel vertically into the upper atmosphere before returning to Earth. The successful launch of a UAE-built system marks an important step in validating technologies for more advanced space missions.
The project was led by TII, the research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council, and was completed over a two-and-a-half-year development programme. All major systems—including propulsion, avionics, and structural components—were designed, built, and tested within the UAE.
The hybrid propulsion system uses a combination of nitrous oxide oxidiser and polyethylene fuel, offering a safer and more cost-effective alternative for early-stage launch vehicles and suborbital missions.
Officials noted that rocket propulsion systems were historically sourced from abroad, making this development a key step toward technological independence.
Experts involved in the project highlighted that the mission not only demonstrated launch capability but also the ability to recover and potentially reuse components—an essential feature for sustainable space operations.
The successful test positions the UAE to further expand its space research and development efforts, with plans to scale up to higher-altitude launches and more advanced missions.
This milestone reinforces Abu Dhabi’s growing role as a regional hub for advanced technology and strengthens the UAE’s long-term ambition to build a self-reliant space ecosystem.
