Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) Dubai Campus has entered into a three-year partnership with UAE-based space education company SpacePoint to work towards establishing a Satellite Development Lab on campus. The collaboration aims to introduce practical satellite engineering experience into university education, giving students opportunities to develop technical skills in satellite systems, integration and testing.
The proposed lab is intended to provide a dedicated environment for students to apply engineering principles to satellite development. The partners will explore the use of SpacePoint’s SatKit educational platform for practical training in satellite electronics, communications, software and systems integration, alongside jointly developed academic projects, workshops and specialised technical programmes.
The facility is expected to become operational within six months. MAHE Dubai aims to gradually scale the initiative towards its long-term goal of training 200 students annually across its engineering programmes.
The partnership comes amid significant expansion in the UAE’s space economy. According to the UAE Space Agency’s 2025 Space Economic Survey, spending in the sector increased by 27.1% to AED 5.52 billion in 2024, with commercial activity accounting for 48% of total expenditure. The survey also recorded a 29.5% increase in the number of people aged 15 to 35 employed in the sector, reaching 1,333.
Dr. S. Sudhindra, Pro Vice Chancellor, MAHE Dubai, said: “The UAE’s investment in its space economy is creating opportunities across advanced engineering, technology and research. Universities have an important responsibility to ensure that graduates have the technical capabilities to contribute to these sectors. Satellite engineering is particularly valuable because it brings together multiple disciplines and demands precision at every stage, from design to testing. Through our collaboration with SpacePoint, we intend to strengthen this practical dimension of engineering education and create opportunities for our students to work on increasingly complex technical projects. We see the proposed lab as an important addition to our long-term academic and research capabilities.”
SpacePoint brings experience in satellite engineering education through its SatKit platform and technical training programmes. The company has previously delivered satellite development programmes with the Higher Colleges of Technology, where 50 students across 10 teams worked on satellite payload development and materials testing using SatKit. The partnership with MAHE Dubai also provides scope for technical mentorship, curriculum development and potential internship and employment opportunities for qualified students.
Dr. Rajiv Selvam, Associate Dean of the School of Engineering & IT at MAHE Dubai, said: “Our collaboration with SpacePoint will give students practical exposure to satellite engineering, beginning with a Quick Flight workshop for approximately 30 students. We expect the proposed Satellite Development Lab to become operational within six months, supporting student-led projects, faculty training and applied research. Over time, we intend to integrate space and satellite development into our engineering curriculum, while creating opportunities for students to engage with the wider UAE space ecosystem. This will help strengthen industry-relevant skills and prepare graduates for emerging opportunities in space technology.”
Mr. Abdullah AlSalmani, CEO and Co-Founder of SpacePoint, said: “As the UAE’s commercial space sector develops, building technical capability across the workforce will become increasingly important. Satellite development requires engineers who understand the complete process, from translating mission requirements into a working design to integrating and validating complex systems. At SpacePoint, we have focused on making this experience accessible through practical programmes that reflect how satellite technology is developed.
Our partnership with MAHE Dubai presents an opportunity to extend this approach into university education and establish a stronger foundation for the engineers who will contribute to the sector’s next phase of growth. Through SpacePoint’s wider collaboration with the National Space Academy, under the UAE Space Agency, students can also gain greater exposure to national space initiatives, industry engagement, and future pathways connecting university learning with the wider UAE space ecosystem.”
