The moon dust has been developing using anorthosite-rich rocks found in the UAE. Photo: Dr Dimitra Atri
The moon dust has been developing using anorthosite-rich rocks found in the UAE. Photo: Dr Dimitra Atri
The moon dust has been developing using anorthosite-rich rocks found in the UAE. Photo: Dr Dimitra Atri
The moon dust has been developing using anorthosite-rich rocks found in the UAE. Photo: Dr Dimitra Atri

Scientists in Abu Dhabi develop 'moon dust' made of UAE rocks to boost lunar ambitions


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A team of Abu Dhabi scientists has developed artificial moon dust, derived from the UAE's natural resources, to help lay the groundwork for the nation's quest to land Emirati astronauts on the lunar surface.

Researchers at the New York University Abu Dhabi Space Exploration Laboratory said the substance – called Emirates Lunar Simulant – will allow scientists to test space instruments and equipment to ensure their readiness for the country's future missions to the Moon.

The researchers, led by Dr Dimitra Atri, an astrophysicist at NYUAD, created the soil simulant from anorthosite-rich rocks found in the UAE. These rocks closely resemble the mineral and chemical composition of Moon samples, making them ideal for testing.

The work will boost the UAE's growing space exploration aspirations. Last month, Salem Al Marri, director general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, set out the UAE's goal to put an Emirati astronaut on the Moon within 10 years.

The Emirates Lunar Simulant could support long-term lunar agriculture plans. Photo: Dr Dimitra Atri
The Emirates Lunar Simulant could support long-term lunar agriculture plans. Photo: Dr Dimitra Atri

“By leveraging local geological resources to advance planetary science, this project strengthens the UAE’s role in space exploration and contributes to global efforts to prepare for future lunar missions,” said Dr Atri, principal investigator at the Space Exploration Laboratory. He is part of the scientific team behind several UAE-led missions, including the Hope probe orbiting Mars, the Moon exploration programme and the space flight to an asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

“The Emirates Lunar Simulant will be instrumental in testing rover performance, training astronauts and validating lunar equipment, helping optimise missions and reduce risk for future lunar exploration.”

Made in the UAE

As transporting large amounts of Moon soil to Earth is impractical, such soil simulants are essential for preparing for lunar exploration.

The Abu Dhabi team, which featured researcher Vigneshwaran Krishnamoorthi and undergraduate students from NYUAD, is using the simulant to assess instruments for key mission operations, including landings, surface exploration, construction and resource extraction.

Researcher Vigneshwaran Krishnamoorthi gathers rock samples for analysis. Photo: Dr Dimitra Atri
Researcher Vigneshwaran Krishnamoorthi gathers rock samples for analysis. Photo: Dr Dimitra Atri

The anorthosite-rich rocks were sourced from the Semail Ophiolite Complex, an ancient geological formation in the UAE that contains a well-preserved section of Earth's lithosphere, or outer crust.

The researchers also explored the substance's potential for use in lunar agriculture and the growing of food on the Moon, to support long-term efforts to build a human presence in space.

Setting sights on space

Bright minds at NYUAD are playing a leading role in the UAE's booming space sector. The National revealed this month how the university had established a new planetary simulation chamber that could transform how scientists in the Emirates conduct space research, allowing them to recreate extreme planetary environments.

Researchers will be able to replicate the surface conditions of the Moon, Mars, asteroids and the Martian atmosphere by adjusting the gas composition, pressure and temperature inside the controlled chamber.

The chamber also has an optical system capable of recreating solar conditions across different regions of the solar system. Researchers will be able to expose samples to intense ultraviolet radiation, mimicking the effects of prolonged space exposure.

UAE reaches for the stars

The Emirates has made major strides in the global space race in recent years. Hazza Al Mansouri made history in September 2019 as the first Emirati to venture into space then Sultan Al Neyadi was chosen in March 2023 to be the first Arab astronaut to carry out a long-duration journey in space.

The UAE signed up with Nasa to contribute a key component of the US-led Gateway, a Moon-orbiting station, in exchange for sending an Emirati to the station.

That agreement, however, only guarantees the country access to the station and a separate deal would have to be made for landing an Emirati on the lunar surface.

SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing landing vehicles to carry humans to the surface from the Gateway station.

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Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

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Match info

Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')

Southampton 0

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Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

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126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Scoreline

Man Utd 2 Pogba 27', Martial 49'

Everton 1 Sigurdsson 77'

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

THE DETAILS

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Dir: Ron Howard

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3/5

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Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

Updated: March 20, 2025, 11:18 AM