In a historic achievement for its space ambitions, the UAE has successfully designed, built, and test-fired its first liquid-fuelled rocket engine. Developed entirely in Abu Dhabi by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), this 250-newton-class engine marks a major step in the country’s journey toward independent space propulsion and advanced orbital and deep-space missions.
The engine, capable of producing thrust equivalent to lifting 25 kilograms on Earth, is designed for small satellite propulsion, orbital manoeuvres, and attitude control. It underwent over 50 hot-fire tests, achieving 94% combustion efficiency, a benchmark comparable to established global space programs.
Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, said, “This engine is the foundation for building the capability that will empower the UAE to design, test, and deploy propulsion systems supporting a wide range of future missions.”
The Liquid Rocket Engine Programme was designed to develop local propulsion technology while nurturing a skilled Emirati-led workforce. Nearly half of the core engineering team were Emiratis, handling critical tasks like thermal and structural simulations, injector design, and test protocol development. Dr. Elias Tsoutsanis, Chief Researcher at TII, called it “a moment of national pride” and “the start of a broader journey towards an ambitious space future led by the people of the UAE.”
Despite limited testing infrastructure locally, the team custom-built cold-flow rigs in Abu Dhabi and collaborated with international partners for live hot-fire tests. Plans are underway to establish the UAE’s first static-fire rocket engine testing facility by 2026, capable of supporting engines up to five times more powerful. The first 1-kilonewton-class engine firing on Emirati soil is also expected that year.
TII’s roadmap includes scaling to larger engines, developing regenerative cooling systems, transitioning to cryogenic propellants, and supporting sovereign scientific, commercial, and exploratory missions. With this milestone, the UAE joins an elite group of nations with verified liquid propulsion capabilities, including the United States, China, Russia, India, Japan, and European Space Agency members.
Dr. Aaraj said, “This engine reflects the UAE’s evolving capability in space, led by its own people and driven by a long-term vision.”
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