The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has successfully launched the UAE’s first sounding rocket with hybrid propulsion, a landmark that propels the nation into a new era of sovereign space capability.
The launch marks the first time a hybrid rocket featuring a fully UAE-designed, tested, and operated propulsion system has reached flight, demonstrating the country’s end-to-end ability to build and launch advanced aerospace systems independently.
Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII said: “This launch is a defining moment for science and engineering in the UAE. 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.”
The launch vehicle lifted off at 12:21 PM on February 13, reaching an altitude of 3 kilometers before safely descending for recovery. The flight validated the rocket’s propulsion system, control architecture, and structural integrity under real flight conditions, completing the final step in a comprehensive development and testing program led by TII.
About the UAE’s First Hybrid Rocket Engine
At the heart of the mission is a hybrid propulsion system that uses nitrous oxide (N₂O) and high-density polyethylene propellant, a combination that merges the simplicity of solid fuel with the controllability of liquid engines.
Hybrid propulsion is widely regarded as safer, more cost-effective, and more environmentally responsible than conventional systems, making it ideal for suborbital research missions, technology demonstrators, and early-stage launch vehicles. TII’s self-pressurizing design eliminates the need for complex ground infrastructure or cryogenic handling, offering both operational safety and efficiency.
The engine, along with its injectors, tanks, control systems, and avionics, was entirely designed, built, and tested in the UAE by TII. It was qualified through a full series of cold-flow and hot-fire static trials before flight.
The rocket was manufactured using advanced composite techniques similar to those used in modern aerospace programs, allowing it to be both lightweight and extremely strong. High-performance carbon-fiber materials were used for the main structure and fins to withstand the intense forces of flight, while the nosecone was made from glass-fiber composites so radio and navigation signals could pass through without interference. These precision manufacturing methods reduced material waste while ensuring the rocket performed reliably under real flight conditions.
Dr Elias Tsoutsanis, Chief Researcher, Propulsion and Space Research Centre at TII, said: “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. That capability is the foundation for everything that follows – higher altitudes, heavier payloads, and more complex missions, all from the UAE.”
Why This Launch Matters – and What Comes Next
This flight represents the UAE’s first sovereign hybrid rocket launch, marking the successful culmination of a multi-year effort to design, test, and operate a fully homegrown space vehicle. It validated every stage of the launch lifecycle, from propulsion development and systems integration to countdown, lift-off, and recovery, all managed by UAE-based teams.
Sounding rockets of this class are used to validate space technologies under real flight conditions before they are scaled to larger and more complex systems. They provide a practical means to mature propulsion, avionics, structural, and recovery technologies, while strengthening national integration and operational capabilities.
This mission established a critical technical baseline for future ambitions. With the successful execution of this flight, the UAE has demonstrated its ability to independently develop and operate an indigenous launch platform, creating a scalable foundation for future suborbital systems, high-altitude research, technology demonstrations, and progressively more advanced aerospace missions.
TII’s hybrid rocket program is only the beginning. The institute’s roadmap includes scaling up to larger motors, more advanced flight architectures, and higher-altitude operations, supported by a growing national ecosystem of launch infrastructure, mission control facilities, and engineering talent.
Together, these capabilities position the UAE as an emerging regional leader in aerospace R&D and sovereign launch systems.
