In 2018, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) signed an agreement with the Russian space agency Roscosmos to send the first Emirati astronaut into space. This institutional partnership represented a major milestone in the UAE’s efforts to develop national human spaceflight capabilities, supported within the broader framework of the UAE Space Agency’s national space strategy.

Prerequisite:

• Institutional & political interest and support for human spaceflight 

• Partnerships with established agencies 

• Existence of technological capabilities and infrastructure in national ecosystem (space agency, industry or academia) to conduct R&D for space exploration technologies.

• Lead agency & budget

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 1M–100M (depending on scope: training, experiment integration, astronaut seat access)

• Includes: partnership agreements and diplomatic engagement, astronaut training and exchanges, experiment development for ISS or other platforms, integration and safety certification, development of ground support and mission operations capacity, national awareness and outreach activities

Timeframe:

• Overall: 24–96 mo

• Phase: scoping & partnership agreements (6–12 mo), astronaut/crew training or experiment preparation (12–36 mo), mission participation (6–12 mo), data analysis & follow-up outreach (12–24 mo)

Pros:

• Accelerates Capability Development - Access to proven expertise and training systems helps build national skills more effectively.

• Reduces Cost and Technical Burden - Shared infrastructure and training ease financial and technical demands.

• Enhances International Visibility - Participation in human spaceflight raises global recognition.

Considerations:

• Limits National Autonomy - Dependence on partners can restrict planning freedom and slow independent development.

• Requires Complex Agreements - Building formal partnerships often involves legal, diplomatic, and administrative hurdles.