Space Pavilion Promotes National Innovation and Strengthens Global Strategic Partnerships at Dubai Airshow 2025

The largest-ever Space Pavilion at the Dubai Airshow 2025 kicked off its activities with a tour by His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of UAE Space Agency, who was accompanied by a delegation of senior officials.

During the tour, Al Falasi was briefed on the key national and international participations and initiatives, the latest space technologies and exploration projects, and witnessed the signing of a number of strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

Strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)

On the sidelines of day one of the Dubai Airshow, the UAE Space Agency signed MoUs to enhance national capabilities, develop pioneering scientific projects, promote research and development, and support strategic initiatives in space.

To strengthen international partnerships, the Agency signed a letter of intent with Blue Origin to explore collaboration opportunities within the Oasis campaign, including evaluating the potential integration of EMA’s impactor engineering model into the Oasis-1 mission, which could accommodate additional Blue Origin instruments for lunar resource detection. This reflects the shared intent of both parties to deepen future cooperation in lunar exploration. The singing took place in the presence of Al Qubaisi and Pat Remias, Vice President of Blue Origin.

The MoUs also included a sponsorship agreement between the UAE Space Agency and the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre to support mission control, command, and operational activities for the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), marking a major milestone in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two entities. The ceremony took place in the presence of His Excellency Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director-General of UAE Space Agency, and His Excellency Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director-General of Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre.

Furthermore, the UAE Space Agency signed a MoU with TRENDS Research & Advisory to strengthen joint research and knowledge collaboration in areas related to space-policy, strategic studies, and socio-economic analysis. The MoU outlines cooperation in conducting joint studies, exchanging experts and researchers, developing evidence-based publications that support decision-makers, and organizing specialized workshops and academic activities. This took place in the presence of Al Qubaisi and Dr. Mohammad Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory.

Additionally, under the supervision of the UAE Space Agency and the Space Economic Zones Program, LEAP 71 and Aspire Space signed a MoU to foster cooperation in developing space projects, enabling innovation and national competencies, and supporting investments in advanced technologies within the national space sector.

Space Conference

Activities kicked off at the Space Pavilion with the Space Conference at Aerospace 2050, with a packed agenda on the future of space exploration, strategic investments, and national security.

The opening session featured A Cosmic Dialogue With Pioneering Astronauts — An Unforgettable Encounter, which discussed the history and future of human spaceflight, and the shift from government programs to commercial  ventures. The session brought together Claude Nicollier, Former Astronaut, ESA and NASA; Rabea Rogge, Astronaut & Arctic Roboticist, Fram2 mission; Sian Proctor, Founder, Space2inspire; Astronaut, SpaceX Inspiration4; and Hazzaa AlMansoori, Emirati astronaut. The astronauts shared unique perspectives  on the challenges, breakthroughs, and daring visions that will shape humanity’s next giant leap.

The conference also highlighted the space economy through a white paper launch by KPMG, leveraging space investments to drive national growth. The launch was presented by Arjun Sreekumar, Associate Director, Global Strategy Group.

Following the launch, a panel discussion was held, Leveraging Space Investments to Drive National Growth, examining the economic potential of space and the importance of building  technology, capability, and infrastructure to support long-term national growth. The session included Chris White-Horne, Deputy CEO, UK Space Agency; Luca del Monte, Head of Commercialization Department, European Space Agency (ESA); Jonathan Hung, Executive Director, Office for Space Technology & Industry, Singapore  (OSTIn); as well as experts from the Indian Space Association and the National  Oceanic and Space Administration.

Another panel discussion, Unique Role of Space in Protecting National Security, discussed the key aspects of space’s role in national security in offering capabilities that are vital for  defense, intelligence, and emergency response, in addition to the integration of space, space-based data and technologies into national security strategies. The session featured Hasan Al Hosani, CEO Smart Solutions, Space42; Abdulla Al Shatri, Director of the Military and Space Strategic Studies Department, Emirates  Center for Strategic Studies and Research; Rafal Modrzewski, Chief Executive Officer, ICEYE; Amal Ezzeddine, Vice President MEA, Vantor ; and Aurélie Girou, CEO, Safran Reosc.

Moreover, Lyn Chassagne, Chief Marketing & Product Officer, BlackSky gave a presentation on space-based intelligence, highlighting artificial intelligence technologies and high-resolution imagery that can reduce the time from assignment to delivery to just 10 minutes to support tactical operations.

The afternoon sessions focused on environmental and technical challenges. A panel discussion on crowded outer space discussed the urgency of managing space traffic and ensuring a  sustainable orbital environment . The session featured experts from the Indian Space Association and Ansys. Another session explored the best methods of sharing and processing data received from space, emphasising the role of artificial  intelligence and machine learning in space data processing and sharing.

The conference agenda also included a presentation on Italy’s moon exploration, delivered by Marilena Amoroso, Head of the Human and Robotic exploration sector, ASI (Italian Space Agency).

The panel discussions concluded with a regional focus, Space Education and Workforce Development: Preparing the Next Generation for  Space. The session featured Rasha Al Amad, Chief Strategic Planning and Projects, Bahrain Space Agency. The Space Innovation Meets Strategic Investments in the Middle East panel addressed building a bridge between government-led programs and private sector funding in the  region, discussing how strategic investments – both local and global – can unlock the  region’s potential as a powerhouse in the global space economy. The session featured representatives of investment firms such as OTB Ventures and Beyond Earth Ventures.

The day concluded with sessions on space education, workforce development, and innovation related to strategic investments to bolster the region's role in the global space economy.

Day one of Dubai Airshow 2025 concluded with a networking activation sponsored by Neo Space Group, and the chairperson’s closing remarks.