Khaberni - Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, confirmed that the space sector in the UAE is witnessing accelerated growth.
Al Falasi praised the continuous government support and the increasing participation of the private sector in this field, noting that the UAE has spent approximately 44 billion dirhams in this vital sector.
Al Falasi told the Emirates News Agency (WAM), on the sidelines of the press conference for the Dubai Airshow 2025, that the success of any country in the space sector primarily depends on the success of the private sector, as many countries started with large government investments, but at the same time, they worked on empowering the private sector to be an active partner in this path, and today we are following the same approach.
He added that the space sector by nature requires ongoing government support alongside private sector support, as they complement each other, but over the past ten years, the greater burden has been on the government, but today we see the private sector taking on a greater responsibility, whether through major companies or the small and medium enterprises that are continually increasing in number.
He explained that the UAE private sector is now strongly present in various international and local events, pointing out that the participation of small and medium companies in the Dubai Airshow has doubled compared to previous editions, also the area of the pavilion allocated for them has increased by more than 60%, which reflects the country's interest in expanding the national participation base in this field.
He added, "We expect the companies to achieve wider spread opportunities globally in the upcoming period."
He pointed out that this year's exhibition witnesses the participation of 15 heads of global space agencies, explaining that the event represents a leading platform to enhance international cooperation in this sector.
He said: There is a government aspect represented in bilateral and trilateral meetings we hold with space agencies around the world to discuss ways of cooperation, alongside another aspect that involves introducing these agencies to the capabilities of the UAE private sector and opportunities for partnership and expansion in their markets.
He added that the space sector cannot succeed without international cooperation, explaining that the meetings held on the sidelines of the exhibition pave the way for new agreements and partnerships that will support national space industries.
Special interest in space applications
Regarding the UAE companies operating in the sector, he explained that the majority of them are currently focusing on the fields of space applications that use artificial intelligence technologies and data analytics to provide services to local entities such as urban planning, environmental monitoring, measuring temperatures and groundwater levels, and other services through the analysis of space images and providing accurate data to decision-makers.
He added that this type of business constitutes the initial and natural stage for small and medium enterprises to enter the sector, given the low costs compared to costly space manufacturing, pointing out that there are UAE companies that have started to enter more advanced fields such as manufacturing space components and operating satellites.
He said the role of the UAE Space Agency is to provide the legislative framework and logistical support for these companies, in addition to facilitating their access to intellectual property protection for their innovative products.
He confirmed that the strategic goal of the UAE Space Agency is for the country to be among the top ten countries in the world in attracting and hosting space companies by 2031, pointing out that this direction enhances the UAE's position as a leading global center in space sciences and future technologies.
