TII Launches UAE’s First Homegrown Hybrid Rocket in National Space Milestone

The United Arab Emirates has successfully launched its first domestically developed hybrid rocket, reaching an altitude of 3 kilometres above the desert in a milestone that signals the country’s growing ambitions in sovereign space propulsion.

The flight, carried out on February 13 at 12:21 PM by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), marked the first time a fully UAE-designed, tested and operated hybrid propulsion system reached flight conditions.

The sounding rocket climbed to 3 km before descending safely for recovery, validating its propulsion system, avionics, structural design and control architecture under real-world conditions. It represents the culmination of a multi-year research and testing programme led entirely by UAE-based teams.

Dr Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, described the launch as a turning point for the country’s technical ambitions.

“This launch is a defining moment for science and engineering in the UAE,” she said. “It demonstrates that we can lead in the development of breakthrough technologies, not only in labs, but in real-world, high-stakes environments. This is the first step in building a national launch capability powered by UAE talent and ambition.”

A Hybrid Engine, Built at Home

At the core of the mission was a hybrid propulsion system using nitrous oxide (N₂O) as oxidiser and high-density polyethylene as solid fuel. Hybrid engines combine aspects of both solid and liquid propulsion systems, offering greater controllability than traditional solid rockets while avoiding some of the complexity of liquid-fuel infrastructure.

Hybrid propulsion is often viewed as safer and more cost-effective for suborbital missions and early-stage launch systems. TII’s design uses a self-pressurising architecture, removing the need for cryogenic handling or complex ground systems — a choice that simplifies operations and reduces risk.

According to TII, the engine, injectors, tanks, avionics and control systems were all designed, manufactured and tested within the UAE. The propulsion system underwent a full programme of cold-flow and hot-fire static tests before flight qualification.

Dr Elias Tsoutsanis, Chief Researcher at TII’s Propulsion and Space Research Centre, said the flight marked a transition from theory to practical capability.

“This achievement is the result of years of disciplined research, engineering, and iteration, all driven by the ambition to move from theoretical models to practical, flight-tested technology,” he said. “That capability is the foundation for everything that follows — higher altitudes, heavier payloads, and more complex missions, all from the UAE.”

Building a Launch Ecosystem

The rocket itself was manufactured using advanced composite techniques common in modern aerospace programmes. Carbon-fibre materials were used for the primary structure and fins to withstand aerodynamic stress, while a glass-fibre nosecone enabled uninterrupted transmission of radio and navigation signals.

The use of lightweight composite structures reduces material waste and improves performance-to-weight ratios — a critical metric in rocket design.

Sounding rockets of this scale are typically used to validate technologies before scaling them into larger systems. While 3 kilometres is modest compared to orbital missions, the test provided a full-cycle validation of launch operations, from countdown to lift-off to recovery.

More importantly, it demonstrated end-to-end integration capability within the country.

Beyond Symbolism

The UAE has already established a visible presence in space exploration through missions such as the Emirates Mars Mission. But propulsion capability is a different layer of the stack.

Owning propulsion systems means controlling access to space — even at suborbital levels. It reduces dependence on foreign launch providers and creates a foundation for domestic aerospace manufacturing, mission control infrastructure and specialist engineering talent.

TII’s roadmap includes scaling to larger motors, more advanced flight architectures and higher-altitude operations. Whether that evolves into orbital launch capability remains to be seen, but the institutional groundwork is being laid.

For now, the 3-kilometre flight is less about altitude and more about autonomy.

It signals that the UAE is not only investing in space science, but in the engineering systems that make independent access possible — a strategic shift from participation to capability.

The rocket’s arc over the desert was brief. The industrial implications may be longer lasting.