{"id":53397,"date":"2023-05-23T17:51:06","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T09:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/will-arab-countries-become-the-new-space-tech-powerhouse\/"},"modified":"2023-05-23T17:51:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T09:51:06","slug":"will-arab-countries-become-the-new-space-tech-powerhouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/will-arab-countries-become-the-new-space-tech-powerhouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Arab Countries Become the New Space-Tech Powerhouse?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The revolution of the space industry has made access to space affordable and attractive. Emerging countries in particular see space commercialization as a huge opportunity. Launching small satellites can improve their economy, utility systems, infrastructure, scientific research, environment and living standards. Among those emerging space nations are the Arab countries.<\/p>\n<p>Already excelling in the space sector is Saudi Arabia. Its achievements started in 1985, when it sent the first Arab astronaut to space and the Arab world\u2019s first satellite. Back in the future, in 2020, the country allocated $2.1 billion for its space programme under its Vision 2030 agenda to transition its economy away from dependence on oil and gas and towards tech investment. In addition, Saudi venture funds have started to bankroll national and international space startups and the Saudi Communication, Space, &amp; Technology Commission (CST) has announced the formation of a Space Entrepreneurship Alliance to achieve further growth and sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0luu5UeSDiPvoRyz9aN9_VS_060123_DGTL_cover-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0luu5UeSDiPvoRyz9aN9_VS_060123_DGTL_cover-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0luu5UeSDiPvoRyz9aN9_VS_060123_DGTL_cover-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0luu5UeSDiPvoRyz9aN9_VS_060123_DGTL_cover-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0luu5UeSDiPvoRyz9aN9_VS_060123_DGTL_cover.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the June 2023 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>And only this week, the Saudi Space Commission sent the first Arab woman astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, to the International Space Station on Axiom Space\u2019s Ax-2 mission. <\/p>\n<p>At an application level, the CST, the oil and gas company Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Ministry of Energy collaborated in 2022 and successfully trialed a 5G narrowband-IoT nanosatellite in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) connecting Aramco\u2019s remote assets such as pipelines and smart meters.<\/p>\n<p>Showing its future aspirations, the country has signed Artemis 2020, implementing its first astronaut program, and is planning to fly the first Arab woman astronaut to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bc6daaeaf7;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bc6daaeaf7 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bc6daaeaf8').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bc6daaeaf8'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>One of the Arab countries at an early stage is Kuwait, which in January 2022 launched its second satellite, aimed at collecting information about its topography and environment. The mission is supposed to be the first of a series of nanosatellites each with specific tasks.<\/p>\n<p>Another early stage country is Bahrain, which launched its first nanosatellite in December 2021, monitoring and studying gamma-ray flashes from thunderstorms and clouds. Their next satellite, part of the National Space Science Agency\u2019s new strategy, is targeted for launch late this year.<\/p>\n<p>A country that could become quite important for the region is Oman, which is building the Middle East\u2019s first spaceport. It would empower the country\u2019s own space goals and those of other regional players.<\/p>\n<p>The other big player among Arab space countries is the United Arab Emirates. The country started in 2000, when it launched the Middle East\u2019s first mobile telecoms satellite, followed by its first government-owned satellite in 2009, and its first nanosatellite in 2017. In 2006, it founded the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), home to the UAE National Space program and engaged with space start-ups through its Space Ventures initiative.<\/p>\n<p>More recently, and demonstrating the advanced progress of the country\u2019s space ambitions including a Mars settlement by 2117, the UAE made history with its \u201cHope\u201d probe entering Mars orbit in 2021. The Arab world\u2019s first interplanetary mission. And only last month, the UAE\u2019s Rashid Rover was aboard the Japanese Ispace lander attempted  Moon landing.<\/p>\n<p>Also in 2023, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) became the world\u2019s first utility with its own satellites (DEWA-SAT 1 and 2) in orbit. Part of DEWA\u2019s Space-D program, they are aiming to improve the operations, maintenance and planning of electricity and water networks.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s not just satellites, earlier this year, a second astronaut from the UAE joined the crew aboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n<p>These initiatives, achievements and plans of Arab countries show their determination to utilize and commercialize space exploration, their capabilities, and their potential. But do these individual efforts mean that we are going to witness the rise of a new global space-tech powerhouse?<\/p>\n<p>At a country level, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE are getting close to joining leading space countries such as Japan, France, Germany, and the U.K. And their efforts to grow their technological and economical capacity through space are accelerating while other Arab countries are also increasing their efforts to expand their footprint in the space sector.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bc6daaf0aa;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6bc6daaf0aa = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bc6daaf0ab').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6bc6daaf0ab'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>However, to elevate these countries to become equals with leading space agencies and large space nations such as the U.S with NASA, India, Russia, the EU with the European Space Agency (ESA), or China, would require a combination and sharing of resources.<\/p>\n<p>The foundation for such an Arab space bloc began in 2019 with the establishment of the Arab Space Cooperation Group (ASCG), which today comprises 14 member states: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia and the UAE.<\/p>\n<p>Its charter includes harmonizing regulations, regional and international cooperation, adopting a unified position regionally and internationally, as well as guiding joint initiatives to enhance knowledge exchange, technical expertise, experiences, and information. It also encourages research and innovation to develop advanced space capabilities, and spurs members without space agencies or programs to develop them.<\/p>\n<p>There can be no doubt about how crucial this development is and the potential it has. What\u2019s still missing though, are joint innovation funding programs and joint projects such as Europe\u2019s global navigation satellite system Galileo or the Ariane rocket. A space station could also be such a project. Saudi Arabia, for example, is already in talks with other nations over plans for the next generation of space stations and is exploring the idea of space hotels. Adding regional launch capabilities would also accelerate the manifestation as a global bloc player.<\/p>\n<p>Undoubtedly, they have the financial resources, long-term vision and ambition to play a much bigger role. It only remains to be seen how far their collaboration and their individual efforts can take them. <strong class=\"Annotation -strong\">VS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em class=\"Annotation -emphasis\">Omar Qaise is the founder and CEO of OQ Technology as well as the chief architect of the company\u2019s 5G SatIot concept. Prior to OQ Technology, Omar worked for SES Satellites, where he was responsible for Satcom sales and business development, especially in the M2M and oil and gas sector, in regions such as the Middle East and Africa. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em class=\"Annotation -emphasis\">Photo: The city lights of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the coast of the Persian Gulf captured from the International Space Station. NASA\/Koichi Wakata <\/em><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405031:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/QczScu3ZQjCMOevY2hrV_ED_Note-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/QczScu3ZQjCMOevY2hrV_ED_Note-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/QczScu3ZQjCMOevY2hrV_ED_Note-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/QczScu3ZQjCMOevY2hrV_ED_Note-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/QczScu3ZQjCMOevY2hrV_ED_Note.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tAddressing the Bottleneck in the Launch Market<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405017:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jlePF7jzSxu8Q4PX8c0O_VS_060123_DGTL_Broadband-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jlePF7jzSxu8Q4PX8c0O_VS_060123_DGTL_Broadband-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jlePF7jzSxu8Q4PX8c0O_VS_060123_DGTL_Broadband-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jlePF7jzSxu8Q4PX8c0O_VS_060123_DGTL_Broadband-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/jlePF7jzSxu8Q4PX8c0O_VS_060123_DGTL_Broadband.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tCan the Satellite Industry Woo Federal Regulators to Win Broadband Funding?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405014:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Xr4iKwrMSI6JOOnBQfZk_VS_060123_DGTL_Bottle-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Xr4iKwrMSI6JOOnBQfZk_VS_060123_DGTL_Bottle-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Xr4iKwrMSI6JOOnBQfZk_VS_060123_DGTL_Bottle-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Xr4iKwrMSI6JOOnBQfZk_VS_060123_DGTL_Bottle-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Xr4iKwrMSI6JOOnBQfZk_VS_060123_DGTL_Bottle.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tHow to Break the Global Launch Bottleneck<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405021:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zNxcPXsXRdKnw3xpEfjn_VS_060123_DGTL_Hyperspectral-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zNxcPXsXRdKnw3xpEfjn_VS_060123_DGTL_Hyperspectral-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zNxcPXsXRdKnw3xpEfjn_VS_060123_DGTL_Hyperspectral-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zNxcPXsXRdKnw3xpEfjn_VS_060123_DGTL_Hyperspectral-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zNxcPXsXRdKnw3xpEfjn_VS_060123_DGTL_Hyperspectral.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tHyperspectral Imaging Attracts a Host of Space Startups<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405024:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TYZIvLoFQRmgJYCQ1SAd_jheT2hHSRi61jxYDXQEu_VS_030122_DGTL_6-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TYZIvLoFQRmgJYCQ1SAd_jheT2hHSRi61jxYDXQEu_VS_030122_DGTL_6-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TYZIvLoFQRmgJYCQ1SAd_jheT2hHSRi61jxYDXQEu_VS_030122_DGTL_6-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TYZIvLoFQRmgJYCQ1SAd_jheT2hHSRi61jxYDXQEu_VS_030122_DGTL_6-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TYZIvLoFQRmgJYCQ1SAd_jheT2hHSRi61jxYDXQEu_VS_030122_DGTL_6.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSpace Investment in 2023: Better Than Expected?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The revolution of the space industry has made access to space affordable and attractive. Emerging countries in particular see space commercialization as a huge opportunity. Launching small satellites can improve their economy, utility systems, infrastructure, scientific research, environment and living standards. Among those emerging space nations are the Arab countries. Already excelling in the space [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53398,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53397"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53397"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53397\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}