Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, recently met with executives from prominent UAE-based space startups. This meeting aimed to enhance the country’s private-sector-driven space economy.

Sheikh Hamdan, who is also the Chairman of the UAE’s Supreme Space Council, emphasized the significance of long-term investment, innovation, and strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors to solidify the UAE’s status as a global space hub. He stated, “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.”

The discussions were part of wider national efforts to foster a high-tech, knowledge-driven economy and to position the space sector as a key driver of sustainable economic growth. Executives from various UAE-based companies, including specialists in satellite imaging, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, robotics, and space launch systems, attended the talks. Companies represented included 4EI, Oryx Space, Marlan Space, Aspire Space Technology, and Aliensense.

Participants provided updates on their commercial strategies and ongoing projects while also discussing plans for expanding operations both within the UAE and internationally. The focus of the discussions was on enhancing collaboration with government entities and increasing investment in the rapidly growing space sector in the UAE.

Dr. Hamdullah Mohib, CEO of Marlan Space, noted that “The UAE has created a flexible regulatory framework and world-class infrastructure that support sustained private investment.” Attendees acknowledged government initiatives such as the Space Economic Zones Programme, designed to attract capital, talent, and advanced technologies.

The meeting also included senior officials such as 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. In recent years, the UAE has significantly expanded its footprint in the global space sector through high-profile missions and investments, while increasingly focusing on enabling a commercial ecosystem led by local entrepreneurs and international partnerships.