The United Arab Emirates joining the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) project Lunar Gateway Station, which is renewing the Moon mission as a stage to get to Mars, is a laudable moment as the country takes its place alongside the USA, Japan, Canada and the European Union (EU). The UAE is an equal and crucial partner in this international project. It is entrusted with the task of developing the Crew and Science airlock module. This is to serve as the entry and exit point of the crews coming and leaving in the missions going to and back from the Moon’s surface from the Lunar Gateway. The Airlock module is to be in place by 2030.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated the broad vision of the country for international cooperation: “The UAE’s participation in this international project reflects our commitment to promoting partnerships with the world that contribute to the advancement of knowledge and progress for humanity.” The UAE stands thus in the vanguard of humanity’s foray into the new frontiers. It is a position that has been achieved in a short period compared to the other partners in the mission.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, explained the significance of the mission: “A significant mission awaits us in this project that represents a groundbreaking initiative for humanity’s return to the Moon, landing on its surface and establishing it as a base for future missions toward Mars. The Emirati team, along with other international teams, are capable of accomplishing this mission, and we will support them by providing all the necessary resources.”

It is this combination of vision backed by material support from the leadership of the UAE that marks the commitment to science and technology as the pathway to the future. The UAE leaders have recognised that knowledge is the key to progress, and the saying of English philosopher Francis Bacon that knowledge is power is the resolve of the UAE leadership.

The UAE has to develop and maintain the Airlock module which is a crucial component of the Lunar Gateway. And the country is confident that it can fulfil the responsibility. This makes the UAE a new knowledge power in the international community apart from being a vibrant emerging market economy (EME), and a state that takes the welfare of its citizens as its prime responsibility.

This is not an easy thing to achieve. Governmental support is an essential component of progress and the UAE government is unstinting in its support for scientific research. That is why, UAE’s scientific and technical workforce is growing apace, and the UAE researchers and technicians are able to break fresh barriers including space travel. As a matter of fact, an astronaut from the UAE is part of the Lunar Gateway mission plan.

The UAE’s commitment to scientific research to boost the economy and also anticipate the challenges of the future could serve as an example for many other countries to follow. And the UAE’s participation in the Lunar Gateway project shows that the country is looking beyond its national interests or national glory alone.

It is clear that humanity cannot survive without cooperating across borders and consider the future to be a common future. No country can hope to thrive and prosper if others are lagging behind, and there is also the need to be in the forefront of international missions for the sake of people living on the planet.

Many experts believe that idealism and international diplomacy cannot go together because in the real world every country has to take care of itself. The UAE example shows that this is no more true, and that the realistic option is to work with others.