Space Café Radio - UAE's Stellar Journey on Space Exploration and Innovation with H.E. Salem Al Marri

From Mars to the Moon: The UAE’s Bold Space Vision

In this powerful episode of Space Cafe Radio, recorded live at the Middle East Space Conference 2026 in Muscat, Oman, Torsten Kriening sits down with H.E. Salem Al Marri, Managing Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), to reflect on one of the most remarkable space transformations of the past two decades.

From its beginnings in Earth observation with DubaiSat-1 to developing fully indigenous satellite systems, MBRSC has evolved into a project-driven powerhouse - focused not on bureaucracy, but on delivery.

But the story does not stop in orbit around Earth.

🚀 The UAE’s Hope Mars Mission proved that ambitious deep space exploration is possible - even for a young space nation.

🛰️ The astronaut program has delivered long-duration ISS missions and the first Arab spacewalk.

🌕 As a partner in Artemis program, the UAE is building the Gateway airlock - securing seats to lunar orbit, and aiming ultimately for the Moon’s surface.

Salem Al Marri makes one thing clear: these missions are not symbolic milestones. They are capability engines.

Every astronaut mission fuels human life sciences research.

Every deep space challenge strengthens engineering excellence.

Every rover built pushes national talent further.

MBRSC’s philosophy is simple yet powerful:

Think bigger than what seems possible - and build the talent to match it.

From landing a rover on the Moon’s far side to one day placing an Emirati footprint on the lunar surface, the UAE is not chasing headlines - it is building long-term capability.

And perhaps the most inspiring moment of the episode?

When asked what success looks like, Salem Al Marri answers without hesitation:

A human from the UAE standing on the Moon.

That is the vision.

That is the ambition.

And the journey is already underway.

Space Café Radio brings you talks, interviews, and reports from the team of SpaceWatchers while out on the road. Each episode has a specific topic, unique content, and a personal touch. Enjoy the show, and let us know your thoughts at radio@spacewatch.global