Sheikh Hamdan backs private sector growth in UAE space industry

Image: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, met with executives from leading UAE-based space startups as part of efforts to expand the country’s private-sector-driven space economy.

Sheikh Hamdan, who also serves as Chairman of the UAE’s Supreme Space Council, stressed the importance of long-term investment, innovation, and strategic public-private collaboration in cementing the UAE’s position as a global space hub.

“The private sector is leading the space scene in the UAE, reaffirming the maturity of national investments that have been established over the past three decades,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

The meeting was part of broader national efforts to support a high-tech, knowledge-driven economy and to position space as a driver of sustainable economic growth.

Executives from several UAE-based companies attended the talks, including specialists in satellite imaging, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, robotics, and space launch systems. Companies present included 4EI, Oryx Space, Marlan Space, Aspire Space Technology, and Aliensense.

Participants shared updates on their commercial strategies, ongoing projects, and plans to expand operations both domestically and internationally. Discussions focused on increasing collaboration with government entities and scaling investment in the country’s fast-growing space sector.

UAE primed to support private sector involvement in space sector

“The UAE has created a flexible regulatory framework and world-class infrastructure that support sustained private investment,” said Dr Hamdullah Mohib, CEO of Marlan Space.

Attendees also praised government initiatives such as the Space Economic Zones Programme, which aims to attract capital, talent, and advanced technology.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education and Secretary-General of the Supreme Space Council, alongside startup founders and CEOs from across the UAE.

The UAE has rapidly expanded its presence in the global space sector in recent years through high-profile missions and investments, while increasingly shifting focus toward enabling a commercial ecosystem driven by local entrepreneurs and international partnerships.