The UAE National Space Academy has launched the Space Mission and Satellite Engineering (SMSE) programme with EDGE Group. Announced on 7 August 2025, the initiative focuses on preparing a new generation of Emirati engineers to design, build, and manage advanced space missions. It is part of the country’s broader effort to strengthen its indigenous satellite industry and reduce reliance on external suppliers.
Building the UAE’s Space Engineering Talent Base
The programme is delivered with EDGE subsidiaries FADA and BEACON RED. It provides practical training in satellite mission design, space systems engineering, and mission operations. This approach ensures that graduates can contribute directly to operational satellite projects and future UAE-led missions.
“The UAE’s success in space will ultimately be defined by our ability to nurture a new generation of technically adept Emiratis equipped to lead complex space missions,” stated EDGE Group’s president for space and cyber technologies.
Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, reinforced this vision, highlighting the nation’s commitment to training talent “according to the highest international standards to efficiently lead future space initiatives and missions.”
A Growing Satellite Fleet
In 2020, the UAE had ten satellites in orbit and eight in production. Today, it operates around 20. The latest, MBZ-SAT, launched in January 2025, is the first high-resolution observation satellite designed and built entirely by Emirati engineers. This achievement reflects the growing technical maturity of the nation’s space industry.
Programme Structure and Industry Integration
The ten-week SMSE programme will run from 16 September to 20 November 2025 across multiple locations: the UAE Space Agency’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, BEACON RED’s advanced training centre, and FADA’s specialist facilities. The curriculum integrates in-person technical training with online modules, led by both Emirati and international space industry experts.
- Designing Space Missions – Mission requirements, systems trade-offs, and lifecycle management.
- Applied Space Systems Engineering – Subsystem integration and engineering best practices.
- Space System Verification and Validation – Quality assurance and testing protocols.
- Space Mission Operations – Command, telemetry, and mission control functions.
- Central Case Project – End-to-end simulation of a real satellite mission from concept to launch justification.
Participation is limited to UAE nationals employed in the space sector, government agencies, or academia, with a focus on those holding at least a bachelor’s degree in relevant STEM fields. This targeted selection ensures the programme directly feeds into the UAE’s operational and R&D satellite capabilities.
Strategic Implications for Defence and Space
By integrating satellite engineering education with operational exposure, the SMSE programme enhances the UAE’s sovereignty in space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. In the context of the Gulf’s evolving security landscape, indigenous satellite expertise also contributes to strategic autonomy, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and improving resilience against supply chain vulnerabilities.
EDGE Group’s role bridges the traditionally distinct defence and space domains, enabling cross-sector innovation in satellite communications, Earth observation, and defence-oriented space applications. This positions the UAE not only as a consumer but also as a competitive exporter of advanced space solutions.
Conclusion
The SMSE programme is more than a technical training initiative; it is a cornerstone of the UAE’s ambition to establish itself as a hub for advanced space engineering in the Middle East. Through sustained investment in human capital, the UAE is strategically positioning its space sector to compete globally while reinforcing its national defence capabilities through satellite-driven technologies.
Internal Link: Space Domain Awareness in Defence and Aerospace
External Link: UAE Space Agency
