"Although much of this may sound fanciful, there is a core underlying economic reason. The UAE, and specifically Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are trying to pump-prime the economy in preparation for an end of the oil era."
They have some pretty broad goals to improve their overall economy and economic and technical bases. They've decided that space is sufficiently inspirational that it is a good focus for doing this. I know somebody who serves on an advisory board for their ministry of education, helping them to develop engineering departments and curricula. He's been impressed with how serious they are about developing an education base that until now has been really weak.
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