CABSAT and SATExpo 2026 head to new Expo City Dubai home with expanded focus on content, Mediatech & Pro AV and the commercial space economy
CABSAT’s 33rd edition brings together media technology, content creation, broadcast and Pro AV
SATExpo 2026 connects the international satellite, space and advanced-connectivity ecosystem, spanning infrastructure, connectivity and emerging commercial applications
CABSAT and SATExpo 2026 take place from 5–7 October at their new home, Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai
Dubai, UAE, September 27, 2026: CABSAT and SATExpo will take place from 4-6 May 2027 at their new home, Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City Dubai, bringing together international leaders across media, content, broadcast, Pro AV, satellite communications and space technology.
Now in its 33rd edition and held in strategic partnership with Dubai Studio City, CABSAT 2026 arrives as the region’s unified sourcing platform for media technology, content creation, broadcast and professional audiovisual (Pro AV) solutions. Co-located SATExpo, now in its second edition and held in strategic partnership with the UAE Space Agency, will connect the international satellite, space and advanced-connectivity ecosystem across infrastructure, connectivity and emerging commercial applications.
CABSAT 2026 is expected to welcome more than 18,800 visitors, 450+ exhibiting companies and 700+ brands from over 120 countries, alongside more than 150 speakers and 50+ hours of industry content. Confirmed international exhibitors include Grass Valley, Ross Video, Evertz, Imagine Communications, Haivision, LiveU, NAGRAVISION and Qvest, spanning broadcast, production, content and media technology.
SATExpo 2026 is expected to bring together more than 8,000 visitors, 150+ exhibitors from over 70 countries and 80+ expert speakers. Participating companies include Eutelsat, SES, Telesat, APSTAR, Space Norway and ST Engineering iDirect.
Rajendra Salgaonkar, Head of Sales, Exhibitions, inD, said: “The media, entertainment and space industries are evolving at remarkable speed, creating new opportunities across technology, content and connectivity. CABSAT and SATExpo have evolved alongside these industries, bringing together the people, technologies and ideas shaping what comes next. With CABSAT now bringing together media technology, content creation, broadcast and Pro AV, and SATExpo connecting the satellite and space value chain, our new home at Expo City Dubai provides an exciting setting for international business, knowledge exchange and collaboration.”
Contentverse explores the forces reshaping media and content
At the heart of CABSAT’s knowledge programme, Contentverse Director’s Cut, the evolution of Content Congress, will bring together international and regional media leaders to examine how artificial intelligence, new storytelling formats, changing audience behaviour and emerging commercial models are reshaping content creation, distribution and monetisation.
The programme will feature international and regional industry leaders including Amith Jain of JioStar, Moon Baz of Meta, Assad Ghanem of Viu and Ellie Habib of OSN+ contributing perspectives across creator-led content, vertical storytelling, production, technology and evolving audience behaviours.
The programme comes as the MENA media and entertainment market continues to expand. The sector is projected to reach USD 18 billion by 2028, with digital platforms expected to account for 74 per cent of the market, while the UAE and Saudi Arabia are projected to represent 66 per cent of the regional media and entertainment share. Globally, the industry is expected to reach approximately USD 4.2 trillion by 2030.
Beyond the conference programme, CABSAT 2026 will create further opportunities for industry collaboration, industry access and recognition. Co-Production Salon in partnership with H-consult will facilitate curated meetings between content creators, producers and investors, connecting creative projects with potential production partners, financing opportunities and international collaboration. The Dubai Studio City Sound Stage Tour will offer a behind-the-scenes look at Dubai’s production infrastructure and capabilities, while the BroadcastPro Manufacturer Awards 2026 will recognize technologies and solutions advancing the broadcast and media-production industry.
Across the exhibition floor, CABSAT will also showcase how technology providers are responding to changing production requirements, as broadcasters and media organisations increasingly move towards more flexible, software-defined and IP-based workflows. Exhibitors will demonstrate solutions spanning production, broadcast engineering, cloud and IP workflows, reflecting the wider transformation taking place across the media technology ecosystem.
Klaus-Joerg Jasper, Sales Director Middle East, Lawo, stated: “CABSAT remains one of the most important meeting points for broadcasters, media organisations, and technology innovators across the Middle East. At this year’s show, we are demonstrating how open, software-based and IP-native technologies are helping media companies transition from fixed infrastructures to more flexible, service-oriented production models.”
Held under the theme ‘Connecting the future’, SATExpo 2026 will bring together the international satellite, space and advanced-connectivity ecosystem. Covering the complete value chain from satellite manufacturing and launch services to ground systems, connectivity, downstream applications and space-data analytics, the event will connect governments, satellite operators, technology providers, investors and emerging space businesses.
The SATExpo Summit, themed ‘From Space Race to International Collaboration in Orbits – A Future for All’, will examine three areas shaping the sector: orbital safety, liability and sustainability governance; future in-space infrastructure and services from GEO to LEO; and human spaceflight and space exploration.
Alongside the Summit, the Satellite Innovation Showcase, Startups and Space-Tech Demonstrations will highlight emerging technologies and practical applications. The Matchmaking Programme will facilitate curated meetings between satellite operators, solution providers, investors and government stakeholders, creating opportunities for commercial discussions and international partnerships.
Together at their new Expo City Dubai home, CABSAT and SATExpo 2026 will provide distinct but complementary platforms for the content, mediatech, broadcast, Pro AV, satellite and space technology communities, creating opportunities for technology discovery, international collaboration and business exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the
projected
market valuations for satellite services in MEASA by 2032?
Forecasts vary by methodology. Roughly speaking, you can expect high single-digit CAGR through 2032. Growth concentrates in mobility, government services, and data analytics. The Satellite Industry may see value shift from raw bandwidth to packaged solutions with SLAs and compliance tooling. Treat headline numbers as directional and stress test against spectrum and launch availability.
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Which countries
lead
satellite technology adoption in the MEASA region?
The UAE leads on policy speed and integrated funding. Saudi Arabia scales national programmes across education and media. South Africa contributes engineering depth and ground expertise. Kenya and Ethiopia show momentum in EO applications. India, while adjacent, influences supply chains and software. You should track cross-border corridors where gateways and fibre meet.
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How do D2D
satellite
services differ from traditional satellite connectivity?
D2D reaches standard smartphones without specialised terminals. Traditional links require VSATs or aviation and maritime antennas. D2D focuses on messaging first and later voice or broadband as link budgets improve. For you, this expands addressable markets and simplifies customer onboarding. It also shifts value from hardware to software and partnerships with mobile networks.
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What role does
AI play in
modern satellite operations?
AI automates planning, anomaly response, and payload tasking. You gain higher utilisation, faster response, and fewer manual interventions. Ground AI clusters telemetry and flags risk before outages. Onboard models filter data and prioritise downlinks. The outcome is measurable: better uptime and lower OPEX across the Satellite Industry.
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Which orbital
configurations offer the best latency for MEASA
communications?
LEO delivers the lowest latency for interactive services. MEO offers a balance for navigation and regional broadband. GEO maintains consistent performance for broadcast and backhaul. The optimum solution is often multi-orbit, with policy routing that matches application needs. Choose latency targets first, then select orbit and capacity accordingly.
