What Happened
Country Aims to Create Commercially Viable Ecosystem
The UAE’s space sector is undergoing a significant shift in focus, from launching high-profile missions to building a commercially viable ecosystem that can compete globally. According to Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space Services at Space42, the country’s future in space will depend on its ability to create a sustainable business model that can operate at scale and sell services that survive global competition. This shift is driven by the changing economic logic of the space industry, where larger satellites are no longer the only factor in determining success. The UAE has already made significant strides in building its space capabilities, with a national space agency, research centers, and commercial companies like Space42 operating in the sector. However, the country still needs to develop large-scale commercial manufacturing and deeper vertical integration to remain competitive. This was first reported by Khaleej Times.