Technology

The inaugural edition of SATExpo Middle East 2025 is set to launch as the region’s premier platform dedicated to the space and satellite industry. Taking place from 13 to 15 May 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the event emerges from the long-standing CABSAT exhibition, creating a specialized showcase focused on satellite and space technology.

Positioned to serve a rapidly evolving sector, SATExpo Middle East will host over 140 international exhibitors and welcome more than 8,000 senior-level professionals, global buyers, and industry leaders. The event will highlight transformative technologies across sectors such as aviation, maritime, telecom, energy, government, and emergency response, making it a key meeting point for innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

The launch is timely, as the UAE's space sector continues to flourish under the National Space Strategy 2030, with a 40% increase in space service and application contracts recorded in 2020. SATExpo aims to reinforce this upward momentum, providing a critical platform for stakeholders across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region to connect, explore, and advance.

One of the exhibition’s key features is the debut of the ‘Innovation Capsule’, a concierge-style initiative offering private briefings, one-on-one B2B meetings, and an exclusive lounge space for strategic networking and partnership formation.

Running concurrently with CABSAT, SATExpo will also feature the SATExpo Summit, a high-level conference gathering global space leaders for two days of impactful dialogue. The summit’s agenda includes keynote addresses and panels by figures such as:

• Amer AlSayegh, Assistant Director General for Aerospace Engineering, MBRSC

• Majid AlNaimi, Executive Director of Satellite Projects, Es’hailSat (Qatar)

• Prof. Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA)

Key discussions will delve into the private sector’s growing role in space, satellite-enabled smart cities, AI-powered satellite data, technology localisation, and the increasing presence of women in space leadership.

Day 1 will explore themes around the new space economy, miniaturized satellite innovation, and urban sustainability. Day 2 will spotlight AI-driven solutions, policy frameworks, and inclusive space sector growth with insights from Rivada Group, Astroscale Japan, and SpaceData Inc.

The Dubai World Trade Centre, with its 30-year legacy through events such as CABSAT, GITEX, and AIE, is behind this new launch. According to Alex Nicholl, Vice President of New Industries at DWTC, SATExpo represents a strategic milestone that positions Dubai at the forefront of global space innovation. “The ‘Innovation Capsule’ reflects our mission to empower startups and create opportunities for the next generation of space entrepreneurs,” Nicholl noted.

Exhibitors have expressed strong support. Andre Hajjar, CEO of AI Pro, a Dubai-based company showcasing at SATExpo, said, “We’re excited to present our satellite design and testing solutions, developed in partnership with Siemens. Our goal is to equip regional organisations with world-class tools that accelerate innovation and meet the highest global standards.”

As a launchpad for global space collaboration, SATExpo Middle East 2025 is poised to become a defining event in the future of satellite technology and industry growth in the MEASA region.

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