The Arab revival of the Islamic Golden Era

The first Arabs in space

It was not until the 20th century that hope grew for another golden age of scientific advancement and discovery in the Arab and Islamic world.

Progress in other parts of the world created more opportunities for Arab countries, including space programmes developed by the Soviet Union and US.

Saudi Arabia sent the first Arab and Muslim – Prince Sultan bin Salman – to space on board a Nasa rocket in 1985. 

He blasted off on a Space Shuttle for a week-long mission, sending back images of himself reading the Quran while floating in microgravity. 

Earlier that year, the kingdom launched Arabsat-1 – the Arab world’s first satellite – which helped to provide communication services to Arab countries. 

Two years later, the second Arab and Muslim astronaut, former Syrian military pilot Muhammed Faris, went to space on a Russian rocket.

The missions suggested the Arab world was about to making another giant leap in science and innovation, but such excitement eventually died down when no long-term space programmes were established. 

Mohammad Bahareth, a Saudi citizen who founded Space Club – a group formed for enthusiasts across the Arab world – said the missions showed the region’s potential.

“The launch of the first Arab astronaut into space was a source of pride and motivation for the Arab people,” he said. 

“It showcased the region's potential to contribute to advanced technology and encouraged future generations to consider careers in STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths].” 

About 30 years would pass until a third Arab astronaut travelled to space.

In that time, several Muslim cosmonauts from countries under Soviet control were sent on space expeditions. But they were one-time trips and did not form part of long-term space programmes.

Musa Manarov of Azerbaijan went on two missions to the Soviet’s Mir space station in 1988 and 1990, for Earth observation and manufacturing assignments. 

Abdul Ahad Momand, an Afghan-German air force aviator, also travelled to the Mir station in 1988, becoming the fourth Muslim in space. 

He was the first Afghan in space and spent nine days at the Soviet space station.

Toktar Aubakirov became the first Kazakh in space when he travelled to the Mir station in 1991.

Another Kazakh, Talgat Musabayev, took part on three space missions – travelling to Mir in 1994 and 1998, and to the International Space Station in 2001. 

In 1998, Salizhan Sharipov of Kyrgyzstan travelled to Mir, before joining a mission to the ISS in 2004.

In 2006, Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian-born US citizen, became the first Muslim woman to travel to space. She was also the first Muslim female space tourist, travelling to the ISS on board a Soyuz rocket.

Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor of Malaysia went to the ISS on a Soyuz rocket in 2007 for an 11-day mission. 

Aidyn Aimbetov of Kazakhstan travelled to the ISS in 2015. 

Space exploration in the Middle East takes off

The next Arab and Muslim astronaut would not travel to space until 2019. 

After the UAE’s Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre announced an astronaut programme, Emirati fighter pilot Hazza Al Mansouri blasted off to the ISS on a Soyuz rocket for an eight-day mission. 

The feat not only marked the beginning of the UAE’s space ambitions, but also created a ripple effect in the region. 

It was not a one-off mission by an Arab country – the goal was to develop a long-term space programme that would benefit the UAE's economy and boost its diversification. 

A year later, the country launched the Arab world’s first interplanetary spacecraft. The Hope probe entered the Mars orbit in 2021 and has since sent back data on the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere and weather. 

Findings have been used in several peer-reviewed journals, benefiting the scientific community worldwide. 

In 2022, a lunar rover, called Rashid, was launched and is scheduled to land on the Moon's surface at the end of April. 

For the first time, an Arab country joined the elite club of nations with access to the stars. 

Just as Arab scholars at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad welcomed experts from different cultures and religions, the UAE has worked with others to make its missions a reality. 

The country teamed up with three American universities to build the Hope probe and launched its space missions on Japanese, American and Russian rockets. In 2026, the UAE will use a Chinese rocket for a lunar mission. 

The UAE’s "work with everyone" policy continues to prove fruitful. 

“First, I applaud the hugely significant drive in space exploration taken by the UAE and hopefully other Arab-Muslim countries soon,” Dr Guessoum said.

“Until recently, there was almost exclusive interest and emphasis on utilitarian science, and thus only satellites in the domain of space. 

“Then UAE officials decided that space exploration – a probe to Mars, a lunar rover, a mission to asteroids – was highly valuable as a trigger for a knowledge-based economy.

“And indeed, we have seen in the past five to 10 years a significant uptake in the number of students – Emiratis in particular, and others as well – pursuing science programmes, such as physics and astronomy.” 

The UAE's achievements in space have had a knock-on effect in the rest of the region.

Saudi Arabia now has an astronaut programme. 

About 40 years after Prince Sultan’s historic journey to space, the kingdom plans to send the first Arab woman and the second Saudi man to the ISS this spring.

Four astronauts make up the Saudi astronaut corps. 

In the past five years, other Arab countries including Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait have also launched satellites into space. 

Oman has announced plans to build the Middle East’s first spaceport. 

“I think we can say we are witnessing a revival of scientific research in the Muslim world, and a birth of space science in particular in the Arab-Muslim world,” Dr Guessoum said. 

“While still below average, relative to both human and financial resources, scientific research production has significantly improved in the Arab-Muslim world in the past 10 to 15 years. 

“Major initiatives all represent key moments and turning points in the pursuit of science in general, and space, in particular. 

“Coupled with other significant developments in higher education and economic activity, one can only hope that this will soon prove to be a new golden age for knowledge production in the Arab-Muslim world.”