The UAE Space Agency’s National Space Academy has partnered with EDGE Group to launch a new ten-week programme aimed at training Emirati professionals in satellite engineering and space mission design, the Emirates News Agency reported. With hands-on modules delivered by EDGE subsidiaries BEACON RED and FADA, the initiative marks a significant step in building sovereign space capabilities and nurturing homegrown expertise to drive the UAE’s ambitious space agenda.
A strategic push for Emirati space talent
The Space Mission and Satellite Engineering (SMSE) Programme, introduced by the National Space Academy, is designed to cultivate the next generation of Emirati engineers, mission leaders, and space system architects. The initiative stems from the UAE’s strategic emphasis on building a self-sufficient, innovation-driven space sector, with a particular focus on developing a skilled national workforce. This programme is being launched under the UAE Space Agency’s umbrella in close collaboration with EDGE, the Abu Dhabi-based advanced technology and defence conglomerate. Specifically, two EDGE subsidiaries,FADA and BEACON RED, will be responsible for delivering technical content and hands-on training across the programme’s key components.
Programme details – Curriculum, structure and locations
Set to run from 16 September to 20 November 2025, the SMSE programme spans ten weeks and is open exclusively to UAE nationals. It will be delivered across multiple locations, including the UAE Space Agency headquarters in Abu Dhabi, BEACON RED’s advanced training centre, and FADA’s specialist facilities. Participants will engage in both in-person and online sessions, guided by local and international experts from across the space industry. The curriculum comprises five core modules:
- Designing Space Missions (DSM)
- Applied Space Systems Engineering (ASSE)
- Space System Verification and Validation (SSVV)
- Space Mission Operations (SMO)
- Central Case Project (CCP) – a capstone component that simulates the complete lifecycle of a real satellite mission, from planning to justification.
The course emphasises practical learning, involving hands-on lab work, project-based applications, and exposure to industry-standard software and tools. Site visits to prominent aerospace and technology organisations within the UAE are also included to provide real-world operational context. The programme targets:
- Emirati professionals in the government and private space sectors
- Academic researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Recent graduates holding a bachelor’s degree or higher
Applications close on 25 August 2025.
The role of EDGE, BEACON RED and FADA
EDGE Group, established on 5 November 2019 by H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, is one of the UAE’s largest defence and technology conglomerates, with over 12,000 employees across 25 entities, including EDIC, EAIG, and Tawazun Holding. Its involvement in SMSE demonstrates its expanding footprint into advanced space capabilities. BEACON RED, founded in 2018, is a wholly owned EDGE subsidiary under its Electronic Warfare & Intelligence cluster. While its core offerings include cyber threat intelligence, incident response, and national security training, the company plays a crucial role in enabling space-related training as part of EDGE’s space and cyber technologies portfolio. FADA, another EDGE subsidiary, focuses exclusively on sovereign space capabilities. The company develops Earth observation satellites and secures satellite infrastructure against cyber threats. It is actively contributing to the UAE’s Sirb constellation, a radar imaging satellite project, and provides end-to-end space platform development, including SAR, optical, and infrared payloads.
National Space Academy – Building long-term capacity
The National Space Academy, launched in 2023 under the UAE Space Agency’s Transformational Projects, plays a foundational role in building the nation’s space capabilities through specialised education and practical training. As the UAE advances its ambitions in space, the Academy serves as a central platform for cultivating technically skilled and mission-ready Emiratis. Its inaugural pilot programme, held in early 2023, marked the successful launch of the Academy’s activities, training 51 participants over two phases from January to June. Since then, the Academy has built on this momentum with targeted, industry-aligned cohorts each year.
- The second cohort, titled Space Applications, ran from May to August 2024. Developed in collaboration with Bayanat, it focused on remote sensing and satellite image processing, introducing participants to practical uses of Earth observation technologies.
- The third cohort, Applied Space System Engineering, launched later in 2024, again in partnership with EDGE Group through BEACON RED, delivering a 10-week intensive programme to candidates from five space-related entities. It provided hands-on training in engineering principles behind satellite systems.
The Space Mission and Satellite Engineering (SMSE) Programme now becomes the fourth cohort, expanding the Academy’s offerings into mission design, operations, and end-to-end satellite systems training. More than just an educational initiative, the Academy supports:
- Specialised employment opportunities within the UAE’s space sector
- Development of innovation hubs linking research and applied technologies
- The broader shift toward a
knowledge-based economy
By scaling its curriculum with real-world applicability and industry collaboration, the Academy continues to position itself as a key pillar in the UAE’s long-term vision for a globally competitive space sector.
