New private astronaut training Centre set to open in UAE

Abu Dhabi: A new private astronaut training Centre is set to open in the UAE. Led by BLINC Space Limited in partnership with investor Prabhav Sharma, the facility will train astronauts, support research in human spaceflight, and prepare crews for orbital missions.

The Centre will be the first of its kind in the Middle East and the only private facility licensed in the UAE for astronaut training. It will focus on astronaut readiness, space medicine, human performance, and simulation exercises that replicate conditions in space. The facility will serve both government-backed missions and private-sector space projects.

“The UAE has all the elements needed to contribute meaningfully to human spaceflight. We are not just preparing astronauts; we are building a platform that allows the region to participate fully in global space exploration,” said Prabhav Sharma, Chairman of AlphaX Holding.

Mac Malkawi, founder and CEO of BLINC Space Limited and a trained astronaut scientist, said: “This partnership marks an important step for the region. The new training Centre will provide the knowledge, skills, and infrastructure needed for long-duration missions and human spaceflight operations. Together with AlphaX, we are creating a framework that enables private-sector participation in space initiatives.”

The Centre, he said, is expected to train hundreds of astronauts over the next decade, generate high-tech jobs, and foster research partnerships with international space agencies, including NASA and ESA, as well as leading universities.

Former NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden junior praised the project’s potential: “A Human Spaceflight Training Center backed by private capital and national vision will make the UAE a serious contributor to astronaut training, human performance, and space medicine. This is how nations build lasting capability.”

NASA astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps added: “Human spaceflight belongs to every nation willing to invest in its people. The UAE’s commitment, combined with BLINC’s leadership and AlphaX’s global perspective, provides a foundation for the region to reach orbit and beyond.”

Over the past decade, the UAE has moved from sending its first astronaut into space to launching the Hope Probe to Mars. The opening of the private training Centre represents the next stage in the country’s evolving role in global space exploration.

“Every generation needs a frontier. For ours, it is space. This Centre is not just a facility; it is a statement that human space exploration can grow through collaboration, research, and training anchored in the UAE,” Sharma added.