Dubai / Malé — [11th December 2025] — The Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) has taken a major step forward in advancing the Maldives’ national space ambitions with a high-level bilateral meeting with the UAE Space Agency, led by His Excellency Eng. Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency and Madin Maseeh, President of MSRO. This engagement aligns with MSRO’s recent launch of the first Maldives space fund, a $50 million initiative designed to accelerate the growth of the Maldives’ space sector while ensuring that its progress benefits other Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The bilateral discussion focused on strengthening cooperation between the Maldives and the UAE in developing their respective space sectors, enhancing technological pathways, and fostering opportunities for joint missions, capacity building, and long-term strategic collaboration.
Three Collaborative Agreements Signed at Dubai Airshow 2025
Alongside the bilateral, MSRO formalised three strategic partnerships during the Airshow, each supporting a core pillar of the organisation.
1. Aliensense x MSRO – Advancing Sovereign Technologies
MSRO signed a MoU with Aliensense Limited, represented by Alex Lapirov, CEO, to explore collaboration on intelligent visual systems and technologies for future Maldivian missions, leveraging Aliensense’s radiation-tolerant optics, FPGA and edge-AI systems.
2. ARCHE Orbital Systems x MSRO – Mission Design & In-Orbit Services
MSRO entered a collaboration framework with ARCHE Orbital Systems, represented by Juan Pablo Garavaglia, CEO, focusing on Earth-observation mission design, in-orbit servicing concepts, and training programs for future Maldivian engineers, building directly on ARCHE’s Alpha Centauri and Xenthra platforms.
3. Stardust Inc. x MSRO – Space Education & Youth Empowerment
MSRO also signed with Stardust Inc., represented at the Airshow by Shinul Paul, COO, with the organisation led by Jason Michaud, CEO, to explore joint educational and training programmes in areas such as space operations and astronautics.
Rajeeshwaran Moorthy, MRAeS, strategic advisor to MSRO, played a pivotal role in enabling the bilateral with the UAE Space Agency and bringing all three MoUs to life during the Dubai Airshow.
Statement from MSRO
Madin Maseeh, President of MSRO, stated:
“This week at the Dubai Airshow, we formalized partnerships with three UAE entities and held a pivotal and productive bilateral with the UAE Space Agency.
These engagements mark another step in strengthening the bridge between our regions. One built not just on agreements, but on shared ambition. As the UAE’s space sector continues its remarkable ascent, we see immense potential in aligning our trajectories, combining strengths, and advancing collaborative approaches to space governance.”
About the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO)
Maldives Space Research Organization (MSRO) is the first space organization dedicated to the research and development of the space sector in the Maldives. MSRO is a non-governmental organization whose main purpose is to use space to help fight climate change through climate resilience and adaptation, to diversify and develop the economy of Maldives, and to inspire and educate the youth and island communities through science and technology. Since September 2024 MSRO is officially recognized and mandated to represent Maldives in all matters of space through a partnership with the Ministry of Defense.
