UAE signs deal with NASA in bid to reach Mars

The agreement could see the two parties sharing spacecraft, scientific instruments, research facilities and information in a bid to explore the Red Planet.

UAE Space Agency Chairman Dr. Khalifa Al Romaithi and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden signed the agreement at a meeting in Abu Dhabi.

“The UAE and the US are long-standing allies and have deep economic, cultural and diplomatic ties,” said Al Romaithi.

“We at the UAE Space Agency genuinely welcome the opportunity to collaborate and work with the USA and NASA in the fields of aeronautics, space science, and the peaceful exploration of outer space toward the common goal of fostering the well-being of humankind.”

The deal strengthens the long-standing relationship between the US and UAE, according to a report by state news agency WAM.

“Since its founding, the UAE Space Agency has been emphasising the importance of cooperating and collaborating with international partners in the fields of space science and the peaceful exploration of outer space,” said Al Romaithi. “This agreement opens the door to the creation of a wide range of mutually beneficial programs and activities involving numerous organisations within the UAE and the US.”

The two countries will continue to identify areas of mutual interest for possible future cooperative programs or joint activities on Earth, in airspace or in outer space, said the report.

“NASA is leading an ambitious journey to Mars that includes partnerships with the private sector and many international partners,” said Bolden. “I am confident this new framework agreement with the UAE Space Agency will help advance this journey, as well as other endeavors in the peaceful exploration of outer space.”

“Already, technical experts from our two countries are engaged in discussions on several areas of mutual interest, and I believe our two agencies will collaborate for years to come through a common interest in aeronautics, exploration and discovery.”