His Excellency Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, Vice Chairman of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), has inaugurated the 33rd edition of CABSAT and the second edition of SATExpo at Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai. Running from 5 to 7 October 2026, the two events bring together companies and professionals from the media, broadcast, content production, professional audiovisual, satellite and space technology sectors.
CABSAT, held in strategic partnership with Dubai Studio City, is expected to attract more than 18,800 visitors, with 450 exhibiting companies and 700 brands from more than 120 countries. Its conference programme includes more than 150 speakers and over 50 hours of industry discussions.
SATExpo, which has the UAE Space Agency as its strategic partner, features more than 150 exhibitors from over 70 countries and more than 80 speakers. The event focuses on satellite communications, space technology and emerging commercial opportunities within the space sector. Al Ghandi toured both exhibitions, meeting exhibitors and representatives from participating companies and industry organisations.
Rajendra Salgaonkar, Head of Sales, Exhibitions at inD, said the decision to bring the two events together reflects the increasing overlap between media, broadcasting, satellite communications and space technology. “Bringing CABSAT and SATExpo together reflects the growing convergence of media, broadcast, satellite and space technology,” Salgaonkar said. “By connecting established industry leaders with innovators, investors and technology providers, the two events create a strong environment for knowledge exchange, strategic partnerships and commercial opportunities.”
CABSAT’s 2026 programme is examining developments in content production, broadcasting, artificial intelligence, distribution and monetisation. Its ContentVerse Director’s Cut programme is bringing together regional media and content executives to discuss changes in content strategy and emerging production models.The event also includes Off The Record, a podcast studio operating from the exhibition floor, and the Dubai Studio City Sound Stage Tour, which provides visitors with an overview of production infrastructure available within Dubai’s media ecosystem.
Speaking at the opening, Majed Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City and in5, part of TECOM Group PJSC, highlighted investment in production infrastructure and technology as factors supporting Dubai’s development as a content-production centre. He said advances including LED production and new studio infrastructure, combined with access to international creative talent, are expanding the opportunities for companies to develop and produce content in Dubai.
“Dubai Studio City provides an integrated ecosystem and specialised infrastructure that enable media companies and content creators to innovate, produce and grow, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global centre for the creative economy,” Al Suwaidi said.
Artificial intelligence is also a major theme at CABSAT, with sessions examining its impact on content creation and immersive media. Discussions include the use of AI-enabled wearables and other technologies to accelerate aspects of ideation, production and editing. The event’s Co-Production Salon, organised in partnership with H-consult, is also connecting content producers, creators and investors around potential production partnerships, financing and international collaboration.
SATExpo provides a dedicated platform for companies operating across satellite communications and space technology. Exhibitors include APSTAR, Eutelsat, INTEGRASYS, ST Engineering iDirect, RSCC, Hughes and Space Communication Technologies. The exhibition includes technology demonstrations, an innovation showcase, matchmaking activities and startup-focused areas aimed at connecting emerging companies with investors and industry participants.
The SATExpo Summit, taking place from 6 to 7 October in partnership with the UAE Space Agency, is being held under the theme “Connectivity, Intelligence and the New Space Economy.” The summit will address developments across space technology, telecommunications, robotics, regulation and the wider commercial space sector. Speakers include Professor Sami Haddadin of Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Rajeeshwaran Moorthy of Space City Asia, Dr Sara Ahmad of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), Christelle Astorg-Lepine of the French Embassy in the UAE, Franck Mouriaux of FADA, an EDGE company, and Mac Malkawi of BLINC Space.
The simultaneous hosting of CABSAT and SATExpo provides a platform for interaction between industries that increasingly share infrastructure and technologies. Satellite connectivity is an important component of broadcasting and content distribution, while developments in AI, communications networks, cloud infrastructure and advanced imaging are relevant across both media and space applications. The two events will run through 7 October 2026 at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.
