The UAE is quietly crafting a new chapter in its space exploration journey. Through an innovative partnership between BLINC Space Limited, led by Mac Malkawi, and AlphaX Holding, chaired by Prabhav Sharma, the nation is advancing toward becoming a global hub for astronaut training, space technology, and innovation.
This initiative places the UAE among an exclusive group including the US, Europe, Russia, and China, as one of the few global centers readying humans for orbit and deep-space missions.
The collaboration is fortified by the strategic contributions of Brooklyn Julian, Venture Partner at AlphaX Holding, and Oliver Studd, Chairman of Valhalla Network, who have aligned the project’s financial, technical, and strategic aims. Together, they are turning a shared vision into tangible capabilities on UAE soil.
“The UAE has achieved what only a few nations have — integrating space into its national identity,” says Prabhav Sharma of AlphaX Holding, which focuses on deep-tech investments and global partnerships. “We’re crafting an ecosystem that blends innovation, science, and investment into something lasting. It’s not just about sending astronauts into space; it’s about transforming the UAE into a magnet for global space talent and enterprise.”
Under Sharma’s leadership, AlphaX Holding has become a conduit between tech pioneers and capital markets. Its partnership with BLINC Space provides structure and financial depth to a sector anticipated to reach $1.8 trillion in global value by 2040.
Central to this initiative is the Human Spaceflight Training Center — the first private astronaut training facility in the Middle East, and the only one licensed in the UAE. The facility will emphasize astronaut readiness, space medicine, and analog simulations — crucial for future Moon missions and beyond.
In the next decade, BLINC anticipates training over 250 astronauts, creating thousands of specialized jobs, and developing collaborative research programs with NASA, ESA, and leading universities worldwide.
“Every generation needs its bold step,” states Mac Malkawi, Founder and CEO of BLINC Space Limited. “By partnering with global entities like the Bolden Group and Inter Astra, we’re establishing the UAE’s first comprehensive training and research facility for astronauts. Our collaboration with AlphaX enhances the commercial and global reach, ensuring this vision’s credibility and long-term impact. This is not just a local initiative — it’s a statement regionally and globally.”
Malkawi, with over a decade of experience in US astronaut training programs, is recognized for his expertise in human spaceflight and operational research. His expertise now bolsters the UAE’s expanding role in defining the region’s space future.
Charles F Bolden Jr, Major General USMC (Ret.) and former NASA Administrator, praised the partnership as “an example of how private enterprise can fortify national space capabilities.”
“The UAE’s initiative to develop astronaut training and space medicine through private partnerships will enable it to be a genuine global contributor to the human spaceflight community.”
NASA Astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps also welcomed the initiative, adding: “Human spaceflight is for every nation investing in its people. The UAE’s partnership with BLINC and AlphaX paves the way for the next generation of astronauts, engineers, and scientists from this region to prepare for real missions.”
In the past decade, the UAE has made significant strides — from launching its first astronaut to the International Space Station, sending the Hope Probe to Mars, and now creating its own astronaut training ecosystem.
“The UAE doesn’t chase headlines; it builds milestones,” says Sharma. “We’re laying the groundwork for the future — where space exploration, education, and innovation become daily life components here. This is the UAE’s quiet revolution, and the world is watching.”
