Space at Dubai Airshow 2025: UAE showcases its biggest pavilion yet
November 10, 2025
As the countdown begins for the Dubai Airshow, the UAE is preparing to take the aerospace conversation well beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
For the first time, the event will feature a dedicated Space Pavilion of unprecedented scale, underscoring the UAE’s growing investment in space exploration and its ambition to become a serious global player in the sector.
Organised in partnership with the UAE Space Agency, the pavilion will bring together international agencies, researchers, investors, and startups. The aim is simple but bold: to encourage collaboration, attract foreign investment, and strengthen the country’s position in the fast-growing global space economy.
“The UAE’s space ambitions go hand in hand with our drive to diversify the economy,” said Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sport and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency. “Through the Space Pavilion, we’re building new partnerships that will help us bring more global expertise to the Emirates.”
Stay up to date with all the news from Dubai Airshow with AGN
A global conversation about space at Dubai Airshow 2025
Running throughout the Airshow from 17–21 November, the Space Pavilion will host demonstrations, debates, and hands-on sessions covering everything from satellite systems to commercial exploration.
At the centre of the activity will be a two-day Space Conference, where astronauts, agency heads, and industry executives will exchange ideas on how space technology is shaping life on Earth.
Speakers will include Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, who will discuss the commercial future of spaceflight and how private ventures can complement government programs. Senior figures from the European, UK, Italian, and Singaporean space agencies, as well as the US Department of Commerce, are also confirmed.
This diverse lineup reflects the UAE’s strategy to blur the boundaries between research, industry, and public engagement — a hallmark of its recent progress in aerospace and technology.
Inspiring the next generation of space leaders
Space at the Dubai Airshow isn’t just about rockets and satellites; it’s also about people.
This year’s show will include Astronaut Encounters, featuring US astronaut Dr Sian Proctor and Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier, who will meet students and share insights from their missions in orbit. Their participation highlights the UAE’s wider effort to inspire youth to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering.
Elsewhere, innovation will take the spotlight at Vista, the Airshow’s startup hub, where entrepreneurs will pitch to investors and compete in challenges such as OrbitX: Agile Space Systems, organised with EDGE Group and FADA, focusing on small, agile satellite designs for real-time data applications.
According to Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, the Airshow’s growing emphasis on space reflects a deliberate long-term strategy.
“The Dubai Airshow has evolved into a major platform for international cooperation,” he said. “It brings together the world’s leading space organisations, helping the UAE strengthen its role in both exploration and commercialisation.”
Confirmed participants include home-grown entities such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the Technology Innovation Institute, alongside international leaders like Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, Starlink, and Eutelsat OneWeb.
Over the past decade, the UAE has invested roughly AED 44 billion (US$12 billion) in the sector, funding new infrastructure and encouraging private enterprise to play a larger role in the space supply chain.
“In the early years, the government carried most of the responsibility,” said Dr Al Falasi. “Now we’re seeing the private sector step up — from established firms to ambitious SMEs — and that’s exactly how a sustainable space industry should grow.”
Private enterprise driving UAE’s space innovation
This shift is increasingly visible across the exhibition floor. The number of Emirati small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participating has more than doubled since the last Airshow, with their exhibition space growing by 60 per cent.
Many of these firms use satellite imagery and AI analytics to support urban planning, monitor the environment, and manage water resources. Others are moving further up the value chain, manufacturing satellite components and taking on operational roles once reserved for foreign partners.
Dr Al Falasi said the agency’s goal is to provide a supportive ecosystem for such ventures — from regulatory backing to intellectual property protection. “Our target is to be among the world’s top ten countries for hosting space-related companies by 2031,” he added.
Dubai Airshow Space Pavilion as a bridge for international collaboration
Around 15 heads of international space agencies are expected in Dubai, underscoring the Airshow’s rising importance as a global meeting point for the space community.
For the UAE, these gatherings are about more than prestige; they create opportunities for long-term cooperation.
“Partnership is the lifeblood of the space industry,” said Dr Al Falasi. “Through these meetings, we can develop new agreements and show our international partners what Emirati companies are capable of.”
The UAE’s achievements in space are already well established. Its Hope Probe, orbiting Mars, continues to study the planet’s atmosphere, while the Rashid Rover, developed under the Emirates Lunar Mission, marked the nation’s first steps toward lunar exploration.
These milestones have demonstrated what Emirati engineers and scientists can achieve. The new Space Pavilion builds on that foundation, signalling that space is no longer a side pursuit but an integral pillar of the UAE’s economic and technological vision.
