Navigating new frontiers: Japan and the UAE’s space partnership

The growing space cooperation between Japan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a fascinating example of strategic synergy that highlights the intersection of technological innovation and economic diversification. This partnership not only strengthens both countries’ positions in the global space race but also demonstrates the increasingly global nature of space exploration.

For Japan, the UAE offers an opportunity to expand its influence in a region where it has key strategic interests. As a matter of fact, Japan relies heavily on oil imports from the Gulf, with the UAE playing a significant role. For instance, in February 2024, Abu Dhabi supplied 44.1% of Japan’s total crude oil imports. In 2025, this partnership in joint energy initiatives has reached a new milestone. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed a 15-year agreement to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan’s Osaka Gas, underscoring the strategic synergy in the energy sector. Bilateral efforts to strengthen relations go beyond energy, reaching into wider areas. As a result, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo are currently exploring the possibility of expanding existing cooperation in various fields of innovation, including logistics services, renewable energy, and entrepreneurship sectors

The Gulf nation is currently undergoing a major structural shift to diversify away from oil and develop into a regional technological hub. The UAE Vision 2021 and Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 have set a strategic direction to foster a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation. Previous frameworks outline comprehensive innovation goals in cutting edge technologies, including space. The UAE National Space Strategy 2030 has major objectives for the country’s space program, including world class space services, inspiring space missions, global partnerships, and investments in the space industry. In addition, Cabinet Decision No. 19/2023, allows for the exploitation and use of space resources by domestic and foreign – either headquartered or operating a branch in the UAE – stakeholders that comply with national space law.

As a highly advanced nation with a strong legacy in space technologies, Japan can leverage space exploration to reinforce its position in a strategically vital region for ensuring its energy security. Since Tokyo’s engagement with the UAE is historically guided by national security priorities, it can be argued that a strong partnership in space can foster broader Japanese strategic objectives. Given the current international political atmosphere, securing access to energy supplies while extending its technological and economical reach in a crucial area is highly beneficial for the East Asian archipelago. Furthermore, faced with strong international competition from spacefaring nations, such as China and the United States, a partnership with Abu Dhabi provides Tokyo with the opportunity to engage with an emerging space nation and offset enduring domestic demand constraints that could hinder its long-term competitiveness in the global space industry. In other words, Tokyo’s advanced technological capabilities, combined with Abu Dhabi’s growing focus on becoming a hub for innovation, create a win-win scenario.

One notable episode exemplifies the depth of space cooperation the two countries have attained. In 2022, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata released stunning images featuring the UAE coastline from the International Space Station, expressing the beauty of Emirati landmarks. What makes this specific occurrence interesting is that Mr. Koichi also serves as a member of the UAE Space Agency advisory committee, which underscores the high level of bilateral engagement in the realm of space exploration. Over the past decade, Japan and the UAE have concluded important institutional accords to foster cooperation in space activities. The two countries have signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative in 2022, which follows the 2016 Memorandum of Cooperation signed between Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the UAE Space Agency that laid the foundation for joint partnerships in space.

This growing engagement is particularly visible in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)’s participation to various UAE space endeavours. A productive cooperation between MHI and Abu Dhabi has already progressed into its third stage. Starting in 2018, with the launch of KhalifaSat, the UAE’s first domestically manufactured satellite, aboard a Mitsubishi H-II A rocket (H2 rocket) from Japan’s gateway to space, the Tanegashima Space Center. The next stage of this partnership came two years later, when an H2 rocket deliver the Hope probe on Mars. The Hope Mars Mission was an important milestone which features both soft power and scientific considerations for the Gulf nation. Indeed, this successful mission enabled the UAE to become the first Arab country to reach Mars, enhancing its status as a leader in space exploration within the region. Therefore, not only did Japan contribute to the positive scientific results of this mission – which advanced scientific knowledge of Mars’ atmosphere – but it also played a direct role in elevating the Middle Eastern monarchy’s political profile as a leading technological power in the Arab world.

In December 2024, the bilateral cooperation was extended to the “Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt” (EMA), set to start in early 2028. MHI will deploy the Mohamed Bin Rashid Explorer rover aboard the new H3 rocket from Tanegashima. The EMA mission underscores the reciprocal commitment to advance Abu Dhabi’s space program and achieve ambitious scientific goals that are mutually beneficial. In other words, the UAE-MHI cooperation signal Tokyo’s pivotal role in the UAE’s space program.

Previous cooperation also includes Japan’s rising private space sector. The “Hakuto-R Mission 1”, a collaborative effort between Japanese ispace and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center tried unsuccessfully to deliver the Rashid rover on the surface of the Moon in April 2023. Although a setback, this venture underscores that strong ties between Japan and the UAE in state-of-the art technologies are not limited to public administrations but also encompasses the private sector. This is demonstrated by the December 2024 public-private joint workshop hosted in Abu Dhabi, that brought together 200 organizations to explore avenues for partnerships in space initiatives.

Lastly, the joint undertaking also extends to human spaceflight. Emirati astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi, who reciprocated Koichi Wakata’s gesture by capturing and sharing a night image of Tokyo taken while onboard the International Space Station (ISS), has undergone training at the Tsukuba Space Center, reflecting an increased collaborative efforts in this area of space activities. Once again, collaboration in one of the most high-risk areas of space exploration reinforces the long-term commitment of this partnership.

In conclusion, the Japan-UAE space collaboration is not just a technical partnership but a reflection of broader national security and economic imperatives. This successful cooperation serves as a benchmark for Japan to access new markets in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and MENA countries, which are interested in developing their space program. If Japan can successfully expand its space cooperation to other regional countries, such as its growing engagement with Saudi Arabia, it could establish itself as an important business stakeholder in the local space market, strengthening its domestic space industry which has yet to develop robust large-scale manufacturing capabilities. Furthermore, such cooperation could potentially enhance Japan’s standing as a preferred destination for Gulf oil exporters in the event of an oil security crisis.

Picture credits: UAE Space Agency