In an exclusive interview, Defence Connect sat down with Al Ahbabi at the recent International Astronautical Congress 2025 held in Sydney, NSW.
The space industry leader manages EDGE Group’s space innovation entity FADA to develop and manufacture advanced space-based platform and system technologies.
Al Ahbabi has previously overseen the UAE’s first venture into space, the UAE Mars Mission, and helped to establish and lead Al Yah MilSatCom, the Centre of Excellence in the Defence sector and the National Space Science and Technology Center at the UAE University.
“In the United Arab Emirates, we know that there is a race to space. There are more than 70 countries today racing with new space programs, space activities,” Al Ahbabi said.
“The question becomes, why these countries and their companies are racing to space? Well, space provides strategic advantages in terms of security, in terms of economy, in terms of science and innovation.
“Space is an indicator of advancement. If you have space activities, a country has a space program, people think that there is a process, there is a plan, there is a professional team behind it.
“If I am an investor today and I want to invest in a country, and I know that country has successful space program and community, I would be more assured that my investment is safer compared to a country where there is nothing. This is just one indicator.
“Space, of course, is a key for national security. The future warfare today depends on space, in terms of Earth observation and of communication, intelligence, navigation. All this without space, there will always be a big gap in terms of defence capability.
“The reality of the main driver is security and defence applications, but also space can spread to other sectors to promote and help economy grow, for people in terms of education and inspiring as well.
“For example, astronauts can inspire younger people. When they go to study STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), they become more educated, and their skills are distributed to different sectors. They don’t have to go to space, but they’re inspired by space. Space is a platform for aspiration, growth, education, innovation.
“Space is the key. There’s no doubt that space is very important. And this is why companies like EDGE and FADA, other companies are investing, putting down their strategy and operational plans to develop space solutions and space activities.”
Acting as director-general of the UAE Space Agency, Al Ahbabi previously signed a memorandum of understanding between the United Arab Emirates Space Agency and the Australian Space Agency in Adelaide, South Australia, during February 2019.
The agreement was announced at the time to facilitate cooperation across shared areas of interest, such as exchange of best practice, and support academic and research capability.
“I was in Adelaide in 2017 when the Australian government announced the establishment of Australian Space Agency. And I used to work with a lady called Dr Megan Clark (first head of the Australian Space Agency). She was the head of the team who were forming Australian Space Agency,” Al Ahbabi said.
“At that time, we were two years ahead of Australia. The UAE established the space agency in 2014, so we had some experience. So, I met with her in Adelaide and we extended some idea to form a team.
“We had multiple meetings and we exchanged visits because there was the similarity (between agencies, government) … We worked with them closely.
“Partnership is key for space in the world, such as local partnership, regional partnership and international partnership. Without partnership, it takes you ages to achieve your goals. If you are smart enough, you can utilise the partnership to achieve your goals in a shorter time.
“To my understanding in the last few years and based on the discussion that I have, they’re (Australian Space Agency) still doing this enabling role with the Australian industry to build sovereign capability in the country.
“In the beginning, the government will need to invest in space infrastructure. But the government cannot continue investing forever.
“The real driver for advancement is the private sector. Companies that develop products and services, and this is where the growth is.
“If the government keeps spending and spending, even if they have the best space systems, it does not bring that economical value of space.
“So, we need to invest at the beginning and let the private sector be the driver. Then we control the alignment and the strategy, but you step a little bit away. This is called new space, whereas in the past, space was the government.
“I think it’s now to the companies to find how they can cooperate and co-development ... The governments just need to probably relax the export control (to allow this to happen).”
At an international level, Al Ahbabi was also influential in establishing the Arab Space Cooperation Group, advising the International Space University, serving as the vice president in the International Astronautical Federation in 2018 and as ambassador to the International Astronautical Federation in 2021.
He places a high value on the trend of developing sovereign capability and industry ownership.
“Sovereignty is a key not just only for UAE, for every country, even Australia, because space systems are subject to export control,” Al Ahbabi said.
“So, if I want the system that are available today, I can go and buy system. But tomorrow if there’s a problem, if there’s like the political environment change, I will not have continuation, and I will not have that sustainability.
“This is why European countries are pursuing their own sovereign capability. Because without sovereign capabilities, it cannot be considered that you have sustainable base capability. There’s a gap and this is why every country is doing it … Space systems are really restricted when it comes to exporting because every country wants to retain and control that.
“In our strategy, it is clear that we want to build advanced space solutions, mainly in Earth observations, and this is where the partnerships always will be around that domain.
“The immediate goal for us is to build capabilities in Earth observation. Space situational awareness is also a key capability and Australia have strength in that domain. We are focusing on empowering people, such as space education.
“I think there’s opportunity for the Australian companies to engage with UAE.”
Dr Al Ahbabi holds a PhD in communications engineering and a master’s degree in optical communications, University of Southampton, UK. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering from the University of California, USA.