Astronomy was deeply rooted in Arab culture for thousands of years, when sailors, farmers, and Bedouins used the stars to navigate and predict the weather.

Today, a modern space culture is forming in the United Arab Emirates as a result of the nation’s space exploration efforts that took the first Emirati to space, a spacecraft to Mars and, soon, a rover to the moon.

Experts in the field have said that more and more people in the Emirates are pursuing astrophotography, art and training in studies related to space.

“Right now, it’s more about rekindling interest in space,” said Thabet Al Qaissieh, an Emirati astronomer and astrophotographer who built the Al Sadeem observatory on his family’s farm in Abu. Dhabi.

The spot in the desert regularly hosts stargazing sessions.

“If you look back thousands of years ago, or even 30 to 40 years ago, there has always been a connection to space in different ways, whether it is looking for the star Suhail. [the second brightest in the sky after Sirius] for seasonal changes or in literature that involves the Moon or the stars, ”he said.

“From now on, it evolves in the direction of more modern tools. I am amazing social media artists who recreate the images I captured. I also see people writing short stories or poems about the moon and the stars.

Countries with large-scale space programs such as the United States and Russia have a strong space culture that was formed during the first era of exploration in the 1960s.

Museums, statues, street arts, and educational programs focused on space exploration are common in these countries.

Mr. Al Qaissieh said the UAE could benefit from adding a space museum and more space-related studies in schools.

“I think the first and most important aspect is to focus more on schools, because that would sow the seed. In the future, a museum would also go a long way because it is much more interactive, ”he said.

Astrophotography and art

Hassan Al Hairi, managing director of the Dubai Astronomy Group, said more and more people have been engaging in astrophotography since the start of the space industry boom in the United Arab Emirates.

His organization is one of the few other astronomy groups that organizes gatherings for the public to observe meteor showers and other celestial events.

“People are getting more and more involved. They are looking to buy the telescopes and the equipment for astrophotography and they want to take the training courses, ”he said.

“Today we see people producing great pictures and that inspires other people.”

He said that only a few years ago around 100 people came to astronomical events, but that number has more than doubled.

When the United Arab Emirates’ Hope probe arrived on Mars, billboards celebrating the event were placed on the side of Dubai’s roads with buildings illuminated in red to mark the event.

This month, a vast space-inspired piece of art was painted in the Al Khawaneej tunnel to celebrate the mission to Mars.

The efforts aim to generate the same enthusiasm as those living on Florida’s space coast or the Kazakhstan desert, where rockets have been launched for years.

Saeed Al Emadi, who is part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center communications team, has more than 10,000 people with his space-themed works.

He also designed Suhail, the mascot of the UAE’s first space mission in 2019, which he hopes will inspire more young people to pursue rod studies.

“I think the recent space achievements in the United Arab Emirates have created a culture of space art. Many people were inspired by these events, encouraging them to celebrate and document achievements in creating space art, ”he said.

“Art can bring people together. It can inspire young people to go beyond their dreams because there is no limit in art. Before exploring space, artists tried to paint it, for example, Galileo Galilei produced drawings of the phases of the Moon after observing through a telescope in 1609.

Space education

The passion for space among young people also leads them to pursue training in the field.

Dr Nidhal Guessoum, an astrophysicist and professor at the American University of Sharjah, said more students wanted to pursue careers in the field.

“I can give the example of the American University of Sharjah, where a major in physics started just three years ago and we already have two dozen students,” he said.

“Most of them are Emirati and many of them want to specialize in space. I have several of these students in my astrophysics research group and some of them have already published articles in top international journals.

“A year ago I gave a course called ‘Satellites and Space Science’ and it has proven to be very popular. We plan to offer it again next semester.

Dr Guessoum and Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri were among the 100 most influential leaders in space in a list compiled by Richtopia, an online magazine. They were the only two Arabs to make the list, but remain an indication of the region’s growth in the sector.

Dr Vajahat Hussain, chief executive of Amity Middle East, said the Dubai campus has seen a 10-20% increase in the number of aerospace students over the past three years.

“The estate has taken center stage in the region. From the integration of space-themed facilities at Expo 2020 to the National Geographic documentary “Reach for the Stars” on the UAE’s space program and a calendar of events and activities related to the United Arab Emirates. ‘space throughout the year, the passion for space has captured the hearts and minds of people,’ he said.

“People are starting to understand the vast expanse of the field due to the awareness of space science and astronomy created by every field and sector in the UAE.

“Billboard ads, art installations, newspaper articles, inspirational success stories – these are just a few of the many ways that people’s love for space is strengthened every day. “

Updated: September 21, 2021 4:00 a.m.