Space Wing B"Dubai Aviation 2025".. A platform for creativity and global partnerships

Dubai, 17 November / WAM / The activities of the Space Pavilion were launched at the Dubai Airshow 2025, in the largest participation of the space sector since its inclusion within the defense and aviation axes, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Space Agency, and a delegation of senior officials.

During his tour, His Excellency Al Falasi was briefed on the most prominent national and international participations and initiatives, the latest space technologies and exploratory projects, and witnessed the signing of a number of strategic partnerships.

On the sidelines of the first day of the exhibition, the UAE Space Agency signed memorandums of understanding aimed at strengthening national capabilities, developing pioneering scientific projects, enhancing research and development, and supporting strategic initiatives in the field of space.

The most prominent of these agreements came with the agency signing a letter of intent with the American company Blue Origin, to discuss opportunities for cooperation within the Oasis mission, including studying the integration of the engineering model of the impact vehicle of the Emirates mission to explore the asteroid belt, and adding advanced tools to detect lunar resources, in a way that supports joint space exploration and develops the scientific capabilities of both parties. This was in the presence of His Excellency Engineer Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, and Pat Remias, Executive Vice President of Blue Origin.

The agency and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center also signed a sponsorship agreement to support the command and control operations and operational operations of the Emirates mission to explore the asteroid belt, in a step that reflects the advanced level of strategic cooperation between the two parties, enhancing national competencies and contributing to pioneering scientific and exploratory missions. This was in the presence of His Excellency Engineer Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the Emirates Space Agency, and His Excellency Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.

The agreements included signing a memorandum of understanding with the Trends Center for Research and Consultation to enhance research and knowledge cooperation in the areas of future, economic and social policies and studies related to the space sector, through joint research, the exchange of experts and researchers, and the organization of specialized events and workshops. This was in the presence of His Excellency Engineer Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the Emirates Space Agency, and Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, CEO of Trends Research and Consulting.

Under the supervision of the UAE Space Agency and the Economic Space Zones Program, Leap 71 and Aspire also concluded a cooperation agreement to develop the reusable Oryx rocket, which is a complete orbital launch vehicle designed to transport up to 15 tons of cargo to low Earth orbit, with the possibility of full reuse to transport 3 tons on each flight.

The activities of the first day of the Space Conference 2025 kicked off on the “Aerospace 2050 Platform,” with a busy agenda focusing on the future of space exploration, strategic investments, and national security.

The opening session witnessed a dialogue entitled “An Unforgettable Meeting,” which brought together four prominent astronauts to discuss the history and future of human spaceflight and the transition from government programs to commercial projects.

The session included Claude Nicolet, the first Swiss astronaut and expert in repairing the Hubble Telescope, Rabia Rogge, the first German woman to reach space, Sian Proctor, astronaut and commander of the Space X Inspiration 4 mission, and Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut. The astronauts presented their views on the challenges and achievements that will constitute humanity’s next giant leap in space exploration.

The conference also focused on the economic dimension of space, as it witnessed the launch of an important working paper from KPMG on investing in space to support national growth, which was presented by Arjun Sreekumar, Associate Director of the company’s Global Strategic Group.

After that, a dialogue session entitled “Leveraging Space Investments to Drive National Growth” discussed the economic potential of space and the importance of building technology and infrastructure to support long-term national growth. With the participation of representatives from international space agencies, including Chris White-Horn from the British Space Agency, Luca del Monte from the European Space Agency, and Jonathan Hong from the Office of Space Technology and Industry in Singapore, in addition to experts from the Indian Space Society and the National Center for Space Studies.

A session entitled “The Unique Role of Space in Protecting National Security” discussed the vital capabilities that space provides to the defense, intelligence and emergency response sectors, and the necessity of integrating space data and technologies into national security strategies.

Leaders from the public and private sectors participated in this session, including Hassan Al Hosani, CEO of Space 42’s Smart Solutions Company, Abdullah Al Shatri, Director of the Strategic Military and Space Studies Department at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, Rafal Modrzewski, CEO of ICEYE, Amal Ezz Eldin, Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at Vantor, and Aurélie Giroux, CEO of Safran Riosc. (Safran Reosc).

In a related context, Lynn Chassagne from Black Sky gave a presentation on “Space-Based Intelligence,” highlighting artificial intelligence technologies and high-resolution images that can reduce the commissioning-to-delivery time to just 10 minutes to support tactical operations.

The afternoon sessions focused on environmental and technical challenges, with the “Crowded Outer Space” panel discussing the urgent need to manage space traffic and ensure a sustainable orbital environment, with the participation of experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and specialized companies such as Ansys.

Another session highlighted “the best ways to share and process data coming from space,” emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in enhancing interoperability and cooperation between space agencies.

The agenda also included a special presentation on “Italy’s Exploration of the Moon: Challenges and Opportunities,” presented by Marilena Amoroso from the Italian Space Agency.

The discussion sessions concluded with a regional focus, as the “Space Education and Workforce Development” panel discussed ways to prepare the next generation for the space industry, with the participation of Rasha Al-Amad, Head of the Strategic Planning Department at the Bahrain Space Agency.

The episode “Space Innovation Meets Strategic Investments in the Middle East” also discussed how to build a bridge between government programs and private financing to unleash the region’s potential as a driving force in the global space economy, with the participation of investment companies such as OTB Ventures and Beyond Earth Ventures.

The first day of the conference concluded with a networking event sponsored by New Space Group, and closing remarks from the session chair.

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