Japanese lunar exploration company iSpace will deliver the UAE's lunar rover to the moon in 2022, the company said on Wednesday.

The UAE is using its space program to develop its scientific and technological potential and reduce its dependence on oil, writes Reuters.

The UAE's first interplanetary probe entered Mars orbit in February. It is now sending data on the atmosphere and climate of Mars.

Founded in 2010, the Japanese company iSpace aims to provide commercial transportation to the moon with a broader mission of ultimately bringing the moon into the Earth's economy. The launch in 2022 will be the first iSpace mission of its kind using SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched from Florida.

The lunar mission is part of a broader Gulf State vision for a settlement on Mars by 2117.