Government Space Program

An extensive view of the activities and budgets of government space programs.
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Key figures from 2024

Ranking*

15th

5 year growth

21%

Space budget

591

USD MILLION

% of GDP

0.12%

Per capita

61.7

USD

Civil / Defense

75/25%

*As of previous year end

Top 3 applications

Satcom

401

USD million
68% of total budget

Earth observation

80

USD million
14% of total budget

Science and Exploration

49

USD million
8% of total budget

8%

5 year
CAGR

Sample of selected missions

Satcom

2024
Thuraya 4-NGS

Satnav

-
-

Earth observation

2020
Falcon Eye 2

Meteorology

2020
Al Amal / Hope

Science and Exploration

-
-

Technology

-
-

Human spaceflight

2019
Al Mansouri

Launchers

-
-

Security

-
-

Space sector overview

The UAE has updated its involvement in space in the last decade: it established a space agency in 2014, it published the first space policy in 2016, a national space strategy, and a National Space Law in 2019, which was updated in 2023. Finally, in 2019, the government released the National Space Strategy 2030 based on the nation’s decennial plan setting a strategy strategy to transform the UAE economy from oil-dependent to a science and technology-driven one, aiming at being at the forefront of “the industries of the future,” including space exploration.

The space budget in 2024 is estimated at US$591  million, reaching a new investment peak.

The budget is driven by Telecommunications, with the launch of Thuraya 4-NGS expected later this year. “The National Space Fund,” an AED 3 billion investment set to develop the infrastructure supporting the space industry, attract startups, and adopt governance systems to attract specialized global companies. The fund will also finance projects in other applications, starting from Sirb, an upcoming EO constellation. In 2024, the nation announced to work on the Airlock of the Artemis mission lunar Gateway, showcasing its technologically achievements.

Total budget evolution
in AED millions

Filter the graph by selecting years and applications on the Data table tab

Total budget evolution
in AED millions

Filter the graph by selecting years and applications on the Data table tab

Government Space Resources