UAE Space Agency concludes leadership of largest space pavilion at Dubai Airshow

The UAE Space Agency concluded the largest participation of the Space Pavilion in the 19th edition of the Dubai Airshow 2025. Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the exhibition was held from November 17 to 21.

His Excellency Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, said: “The Space Pavilion at the Dubai Airshow reinforces the UAE’s position as a global hub for the space industry and advanced technological innovation.”

Al Falasi added: “This unprecedented local and global participation shows the confidence of our international partners in our national system. It supports our efforts to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy founded on future science and technologies.”

Al Falasi continued: “We aim to expand the UAE’s space presence through strategic projects that foster cooperation and strengthen the country’s role in shaping the future of this vital sector globally.”

His Excellency Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director-General of UAE Space Agency, said: “This year, the Space Pavilion presented an advanced model of integration between local entities and international partners. It also reviewed the latest space technologies and related sciences.”

Al Qubaisi added: “The significant increase in the number of participating companies and entities reflects the success of our efforts to build an environment that empowers innovation and investment. We aim to enhance our national capabilities and reinforce the UAE’s position as a regional leader in the space industry—a destination that embraces the future and redefines boundaries.”

During the exhibition, the UAE Space Agency organised a two-day Space Conference featuring approximately 23 events, including panel discussions, interviews, workshops, presentations, case studies and networking sessions. The conference brought together more than 60 speakers, including four astronauts and representatives from more than 10 space agencies and 20 private companies, reflecting global representation and collaboration within the space sector.

During the conference, Al Qubaisi participated in a panel discussion, Forging New Frontiers Through Global Partnerships. The session discussed the transformation of the space industry, and the role of space agencies and government organisations in establishing the new space economy. It also explored the strategic priorities, challenges, and opportunities in the coming decade, including the importance of establishing norms of behaviour in space, and how the Artemis Accords, which are celebrating their five-year anniversary, are contributing to a future of peace and prosperity.

The Space Pavilion also hosted the Planet X Challenge, with more than 450 students from academic institutions in the UAE participating in the Lander Challenge, organised in collaboration with SpacePoint, a UAE-based startup.

Three teams won the Lander Challenge after presenting innovative engineering solutions. Team Al-Najm focused on designing a landing mechanism for a CubeSat capable of safely landing on another planet’s surface. Team Falcon X developed a fully mechanical landing system designed to protect a 1U CubeSat during a 5-metre free fall, relying solely on structural deformation and TPU damping to absorb impact energy. Team Stellar X developed a fully 3D-printed passive system that protects a 500 g CubeSat during 2-5 metres impacts using only mechanical damping.

Meanwhile, 45 students participated in the SpaceAware Application Challenge, a space applications competition held in partnership with Khalifa University. Three innovative projects won the SpaceAware Application Challenge. The first winner, EMA Mission Tracker project, is an AI-driven mobile application that revolutionises how mission teams monitor and manage deep-space operations. The second winner, SpaceWise Ai project, is an educational application designed to raise awareness about real space mission failures and successes through an interactive, AI-powered learning experience. The third winner, AURORA Mission X project, is a UAE-focused deep-space landing simulator that trains cadets in precision lunar descent and mission readiness.

At the Space Pavilion, the UAE Space Agency signed a number of strategic agreements with national and international entities. These included a letter of intent with the US-based company Blue Origin for the Oasis mission, and a sponsorship agreement with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to support the operational aspects of the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), as well as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with TRENDS Research & Advisory, Exploration Company, and Sharjah Academy For Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology.

In the presence of leading space industry experts, the UAE Space Agency Youth Council organised a youth forum on the sidelines of the Dubai Airshow 2025. The forum addressed the future of the job market in the space sector, promising opportunities for youth in this vital sector, as well as the skills required to keep pace with rapid developments and global transformations in space, science, and advanced technology. The forum also provided a platform for young people to connect directly with experts, share views on future career paths, and discuss their role in strengthening the UAE’s position as a leading nation in the space industry.

The Space Pavilion at the Dubai Airshow welcomed official delegations from regional and international space agencies, as well as representatives from universities, research institutions and technology companies. In a meeting, Al Falasi and Sheikh Khalid bin Ali bin Jaber Al Khalifa, Chairman of Bahrain Space Agency, discussed ways to enhance the UAE-Bahrain partnership to build an advanced Gulf space system.

Furthermore, Al Qubaisi met with a delegation from the Uzbekspace Agency, headed by His Excellency Shukhrat Kadyrov, Director-General of the Uzbekspace Agency, to discuss cooperation opportunities in space. Al Qubaisi also met with the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), a Japanese space science research institute, and the companies Airbus and ST Engineering, to cultivate cooperation in scientific research, development of space technologies, and implementation of joint projects.

The Agency team also held a series of meetings with multiple global entities, including Boeing, BlackSky, Safran, Innospace, and the UK Space Agency, to discuss prospects for cooperation and exchange of expertise in space exploration, technology development and enhancing its sustainability.

As part of the Space Pavilion’s activities at the Dubai Airshow, the UAE Space Agency organised a graduation ceremony for two batches from the National Space Academy. The first batch included the Space Applications Programme in cooperation with Space 42, where a group of students specialising in space applications graduated. The second was the Space Mission and Satellite Engineering (SMSE) Programme in cooperation with FADA, Beacon Red and Orbital Space. The programme equips students with specialised expertise in satellite mission design, space systems engineering, and mission operations, positioning them to support and accelerate the development of the UAE’s space capabilities.

During its participation in Dubai Airshow 2025, the UAE Space Agency team highlighted the Emirates Mars Mission (Hope Probe), the Space Data Centre, the National Space Academy, the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), Sirb, Arab Satellite 813, and the Space Economic Zones Programme. The team also introduced the upcoming edition of the Abu Dhabi Space Debate in December 2026. They also reviewed the Agency’s digital services that offer a flexible environment for entrepreneurs and startups to seamlessly launch their space projects, by facilitating the issuance of space licenses and permits electronically.