The UAE Space Program is an Expensive Bubble

News:

It has been almost two years since the UAE Mars Mission ship reached the Red Planet. This project has already shown amazing results. In February 2021, the Emirates became the first Arab country to reach Mars and the fifth country in the world to study Martian weather, according to the report "Arabs Explore Mars: New Data from the Hope Probe" published by Euronews.

As a result of the mission, 14 scientific papers with unique findings were published, and the latest images are of revolutionary importance for science. They help provide the first complete picture of the climate and atmosphere on Mars. But the ultimate goal of the UAE mission to Mars is to create an innovative and competitive knowledge-based economy, sums up Euronews.(Source:https://ru.euronews.com/next/2022/12/17/arabs-to-mars-the-hope-probe-update)

Comment:

The very title of the report - "Arabs explore Mars" - reflects the irony with which the journalists of the Euronews TV channel cover the "successes" of the UAE space program. The deliberate generalization of “Arabs”, against the backdrop of well-known European Islamophobia, combined with the wording “exploring Mars” underlines their skepticism about the plans of the UAE rulers to enter the club of space powers.

In reality, the activation and development of the UAE space program, despite some benefits derived from it, serves as a way in the struggle for influence in the region between the leading Western superpowers. For its implementation, a separate division has been created in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Crown Prince of Dubai has been appointed Chairman and General Manager of MBRSC strategic plans and projects.

Without a sufficient scientific and technological base, the development, construction and launch of spacecraft under the auspices of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) is carried out abroad. Therefore, the entire space program of the UAE is nothing but high-cost cooperation with technologically advanced countries, in which the UAE is assigned only the role of a money wallet.

With fabulous incomes from the sale of oil and gas, tourism, re-export and transportation of goods produced in different parts of the world, the UAE, like other states of the Persian Gulf, does not have its own high-tech production. Everything from oil and gas industry equipment and weapons, to cars, electronics and household appliances, they are forced to import.

The United States is increasingly drawing the UAE into the orbit of its interests, like other countries of the Persian Gulf that have been under British influence since the era of colonial rule. To change the political balance in the region in their favor, they are implementing various plans and methods, including by involving them in close economic, scientific and technical cooperation. However, this cooperation is more like extortion and blackmail, in which the US presents itself as the patron and protector of the ruling Arab regimes.

Therefore, after giving condescending praise to the UAE's "Mars mission", representatives of the European Space Agency offer their assistance in coordinating "efforts and identifying the right goals." At the same time, they express concern about the increase in the number of satellites in low Earth orbit, calling it a threat to sustainable development in space exploration. Indirectly pointing to the American businessman Elon Musk, they thereby place all responsibility for this threat on the United States.

The implementation of its own space program, in which interest in the UAE suddenly awakened less than a decade ago, requires huge financial costs and high-tech production, as well as the presence of a serious scientific school, whether in the field of fundamental physics or rocket science. For the space program to be effective, it must be independent, with its own plans and goals. Its tasks should be commensurate with the reality of the problems, the possibilities and benefits of solving them. And for this it is necessary, first of all, that the state has its own political will and strength for its implementation.

Considering that the rulers of the UAE are nothing more than Western puppets, their space program will result in nothing but a waste of the Islamic Ummah's property. In addition, targeting young people, judging by the statements of the leadership of the UAE Space Agency, it carries an ideological danger, suggesting the idea of turning to the technologically advanced West instead of Islam for the solution of all problems.

Yes, Islam encourages a person to often think about the creation of the Universe, deepening his gaze on the features of its structure and the order existing in it. However, this reflection should not be based on the ideas of materialism, secularism and other philosophical or fantastic fabrications. The result of observation and reflection should be the strengthening of faith in Allah - the Creator of heaven and earth, and the bringing of a person's life in accordance with the order legalized by him. Otherwise, there will be no sense and benefit in his thinking. Allah Almighty said:

[إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَـَٔايَٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ‎*‏ ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَٰطِلًا سُبْحَٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ]

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the change of night and day, there are signs for those who have intelligence, who remember Allah, standing, sitting and on their sides, and meditate on the creation of the heavens and earth: “Our Lord! You did not create this in vain. Praise be to Thee! Protect us from the punishment of fire.” [3:190-191].

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Mustafa Amin
Member of the Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Ukraine