A business boom is helping the UAE take significant strides in the global space race, with private companies at the heart of progress in a flourishing sector worth billions of dirhams to the economy.
Sarah Bamatraf, a space policies and legislation specialist at the UAE Space Agency, said a concerted private sector push is proving crucial to growth.
She spoke to The National on Wednesday at the launch event of the 2025 Space Economic Survey, which will measure space activities from 2024 across the nation. The latest figures show that the sector is worth more than Dh22 billion ($5.9 billion).
“We now have more than 170 companies targeted in this year’s space economic survey, and every year we have seen an increase in that number,” she told The National.
“In Abu Dhabi, for example, there are more than 80 entities and in Dubai we have more than 40 that specialise in space and also companies that benefit from the sector.”
The survey, first launched in 2022, collects data on revenue, expenditure, workforce demographics and research spending.
It helps officials track how government and commercial enterprises are contributing to the space economy.
Abu Dhabi’s Space42, a space technology company that trades on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), is one of the UAE’s most prominent organisations, developing communication and Earth observation satellites, as well as advanced AI mapping tools.
Smaller companies are also playing a role, with some that helped with the country’s landmark Hope probe Mars mission. The private sector is helping develop parts for the UAE’s asteroid belt mission, scheduled for launch in 2028.
Private sector boost
Salem Al Qubaisi, director general of the UAE Space Agency, told The National that the latest indicators suggested the sector was flourishing.
When asked what stood out from the previous 2023 survey, he said the private sector.
“What we can see is that there is positive growth in the sector, especially economically,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll see more companies venturing in the upstream. Most of the companies are in the downstream of the value chain.”
Most companies today focus on downstream services such as Earth observation data, satellite communications and analytics.
But the government is pushing for organisations to take on upstream activities, such as satellite manufacturing and mission hardware.
Building an ecosystem
The agency has introduced initiatives such as the Space Economic Zones programme, which is designed to attract and incentivise the private sector, to accelerate this shift.
“We’ve also been organising workshops for these companies and asked for their perspectives,” said Ms Bamatraf. “Two months ago, there was one that focused on the entire space ecosystem. We take these insights into consideration and turn them into policies and initiatives to support the growth of the private sector.”
These measures are part of a global shift that Nasa helped to lead, in which it would rely heavily on awarding contracts to commercial companies for missions and services rather than carrying them out entirely in-house.
This helps space agencies reduce costs and speed up innovation.
Statistics show momentum
The 2021 survey, released in 2023, revealed that total spending in the UAE space sector rose by 6.6 per cent year-on-year.
Commercial spending accounted for 44 per cent of the total, while government contributed the rest.
Spending on research and development increased by nearly 15 per cent, with the bulk directed at exploration activities. The findings for 2023 are expected to be released in November.
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SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
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Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
