Europe Seeks UAE Partner to Cut US Reliance
European space talks with the UAE aim to reduce dependence on American launch and crew providers over the coming decade.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Space
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The European Space Agency's director general is visiting Dubai and Abu Dhabi this week to meet UAE officials as Europe seeks to reduce its reliance on the United States for space exploration. The talks are at the discussion stage; no agreement has been signed.
Why it matters
ESA's roughly 5% budget link to US cooperation is exposed as Washington has scaled back or halted shared projects such as the Lunar Gateway and Mars Sample Return, and Europe still depends on US providers to send its astronauts to orbit. Europe's dependence has also been exposed by the rise of SpaceX.
The UAE has sent two of its nationals into space through its astronaut programme and launched the Arab world's first Mars mission in 2020, but it cannot yet organise launches on its own and does not own an independent satellite navigation system.
The players
European Space Agency (ESA)
Europe's intergovernmental space agency, whose launch and crew access currently depends in part on SpaceX and other US providers.
SpaceX
US private launch company whose spacecraft currently carry crews to the International Space Station, and whose rise has exposed European dependence.
NASA
US space agency whose cooperation with ESA has weakened after Washington scaled back or halted common projects such as the Lunar Gateway.
The details
Discussions between ESA and the UAE include a possible lunar rover launch and the participation of an Emirati astronaut in the EPIC programme, which would fly a crew to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX spacecraft. The framework is a longer-term effort: ESA hopes to sign a framework agreement with the UAE over time, with the aim of reducing European dependence on external launch and crew providers.
Timeline
September: ESA director stated Europe needs €10 billion over 10 years for space autonomy.
This week: ESA director meets officials in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Over the next 10 years: Europe would need €10 billion to strengthen its autonomy in space.
The Tech Race
ESA's talks with the UAE follow a series of scaled-back or halted US-led projects, including the Lunar Gateway and Mars Sample Return. The UAE's own astronaut programme and 2020 Mars mission position it as a potential partner in the broader competition for independent crewed and exploration capability.
The talks do not change any current launch or crew arrangements, and no agreement has been signed. Any effect on European access to orbit or on the UAE's role will depend on whether the framework agreement and the proposed missions are eventually confirmed.
The takeaway
Watch for whether ESA and the UAE sign the proposed framework agreement and whether a lunar rover launch or Emirati EPIC participation is formally confirmed. Those would be the first concrete steps toward reducing European dependence on US providers.
Further reading
For background on how these partnerships fit into the wider field, explore the latest reporting in the Space section.
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Should European countries reduce their reliance on the United States for space programs?
