France and UAE Strengthen Space Industry Ties as 15 French Companies Explore Partnerships

France and the UAE are seeking to deepen industrial, technological and commercial cooperation in the space sector, as 15 French companies joined Emirati space leaders for the third edition of French Space Days UAE.

Organised by Business France and the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), in partnership with the Embassy of France to the UAE, the two-day programme brought together government representatives, space agencies, research institutions and industry leaders in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to explore new business opportunities and joint projects.

The initiative comes as cooperation between the two countries expands beyond institutional and scientific collaboration into satellite manufacturing, Earth observation, commercial space services and the development of sovereign space capabilities.

15 French Companies Explore UAE Space Opportunities

The French delegation represents expertise across satellite systems, Earth observation, telecommunications, launch technologies, orbital services and emerging space applications.

Participating companies include CT Engineering Group, Exail, Infinite Orbits, Orus Space, Look Up Space, Core Orbital Systems, SpaceDreamS, Unseenlabs, Safran Space, Mecano ID, Cailabs, Satinox, Skynopy, Ride! and U-Space.

The programme combines high-level discussions, company presentations, business-to-business meetings and visits to major UAE space organisations. The aim is to connect French technology providers directly with Emirati decision-makers and potential commercial partners.

Orbitworks Agreement Highlights Growing Cooperation

The event follows recent developments in France-UAE commercial space cooperation. In August 2026, CNES secured dedicated capacity on Orbitworks' Altair constellation under a multi-year agreement.

Orbitworks, a joint venture between UAE-based Marlan Space and French-American company Loft Orbital, is developing the constellation at its satellite manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi.

Altair-1, the first satellite in the UAE-built, AI-enabled Earth observation constellation, successfully reached orbit on October 1, highlighting the growing industrial and commercial dimension of the bilateral relationship.

The development reflects opportunities for French and Emirati companies to collaborate across satellite production, Earth observation, data services and related technologies.

Space Cooperation Built on Longstanding Partnership

Space has become an established pillar of the broader France-UAE Strategic Dialogue. Cooperation between CNES and the UAE Space Agency dates back to a framework agreement signed in 2015, covering areas including Earth observation, satellite technologies, exploration and talent development.

In 2018, CNES opened a permanent representation at the French Embassy in Abu Dhabi, becoming the first foreign space agency to establish a representative office in the UAE.

The partnership has since produced projects involving research, engineering and mission development. CNES and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), for example, are collaborating on the Rashid-2 lunar rover. CNES is providing its CASPEX imaging technology and contributing to image processing and mission operations.

Cooperation has also expanded into satellite manufacturing, commercial space activities and Earth observation, reflecting the development of both countries' space ecosystems.

LEONAV Project Advances Navigation Capabilities

Since 2022, CNES and the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) have worked together on the LEONAV prototype, a proposed low-Earth-orbit constellation for positioning, navigation and timing.

CNES contributes technical expertise and acquisition capabilities, while French companies including U-Space, Safran Space and Thales are involved in the project.

The collaboration illustrates the breadth of bilateral engagement, extending from scientific missions to technologies that could support navigation, connectivity and other strategic applications.

As the UAE advances its national space ambitions, France brings expertise across the space value chain, including launch systems, satellite manufacturing, secure communications, orbital services and space sustainability.

Two-Day Programme Connects Industry Leaders

French Space Days UAE opened on October 12 at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) in Abu Dhabi. The opening brought together representatives from the UAE Space Agency, CNES, the French Embassy, government entities and the space industry.

Discussions focused on four strategic areas: sovereign space capabilities, space-data applications, connectivity and operations in the New Space economy, and the protection of critical space assets.

The programme also included visits to Space42 and Orbitworks, providing French companies with opportunities to learn more about the UAE's commercial satellite capabilities and developing space infrastructure.

In Dubai, a session at MBRSC offered further engagement with organisations involved in the country's expanding space ecosystem.

The programme concluded with a networking reception at the Residence of France in the UAE, bringing together government officials, space agencies, research institutions and industry representatives to strengthen existing relationships and explore future cooperation.

France and UAE Focus on Joint Development

Marie Audouard, Ambassador of France to the UAE, said bilateral cooperation had evolved from major industrial programmes towards a more balanced relationship encompassing science, technology, industry and sovereign capabilities.

She said the two countries were increasingly focused on co-development, co-industrialisation and shared capabilities, describing French Space Days UAE as a practical expression of that ambition.

Dr Sultan Mohammed Al-Nuaimi, Director General of ECSSR, said the space sector had become a strategic driver of economic growth, technological advancement and national resilience.

He added that initiatives such as French Space Days UAE could encourage dialogue between French and Emirati organisations and support partnerships contributing to the wider global space ecosystem.

By combining institutional engagement with industrial visits and direct business meetings, French Space Days UAE aims to translate the two countries' longstanding relationship into a new generation of joint space projects.