UAE Space Agency demands registration from all space-related businesses
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency on July 28, 2026 announced that all space-related businesses that wish to operate within the UAE must register with the agency within 90 days, in accordance with a 2023 UAE law.
The UAE Space Agency calls upon all companies, organisations, public and private entities, and individuals currently operating or wishing to operate within the UAE space sector to take the initiative to regularise their status, complete all regulatory requirements, and obtain the necessary licences and permits within a 90-day grace period starting from 27th July 2026. This is in accordance with the provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. (46) of 2023 concerning the Regulation of the Space Sector.
…after the expiration of the specified deadline, the supervisory and legal measures stipulated by law will be taken against non-compliant entities in accordance with the applicable legislation in the UAE.
A naive analysis would claim this licensing requirement is simply so the government knows what companies wish to do space-related business. A more cynical appraisal says that this requirement will allow the government to pick and choose which companies it wishes to succeed, and what those companies must pay to get that okay.
Based on how governments usually operate — especially in the Arab Middle East — I think it wise to consider the latter more likely.
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Agree. This is pretty much a motivation for anyone in the UAE serious about pursuing space-related business to relocate elsewhere.