The United Arab Emirates has achieved a historic milestone by successfully building and testing its first homegrown liquid-fueled rocket engine, a significant step towards its space technology goals. The 250-newton-class engine, designed entirely in Abu Dhabi by the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), showcases the country’s expanding capability in advanced propulsion systems for future orbital and deep-space missions.

The engine, which can produce thrust equivalent to lifting 25 kilogrammes on Earth, underwent more than 50 hot-fire tests and achieved 94% combustion efficiency. These findings confirm its design reliability and preparedness for applications such as small satellite propulsion and orbital manoeuvres.

According to Dr Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, the breakthrough lays the groundwork for the UAE’s development of independent space propulsion capabilities. Almost half of the engineering team behind the project were Emirati nationals, demonstrating the country’s focus on cultivating local talent.

Despite the lack of permanent test facilities, engineers conducted cold-flow trials in Abu Dhabi and partnered with the UK’s Airborne Engineering for live testing. The UAE currently intends to create its first static-fire testing site by 2026, capable of supporting more powerful 1-kilonewton-class engines.