The Middle East’s space economy and satellite industry is booming. As the region seeks to establish itself as a key player in the global space industry and diversify its economies which have traditionally been reliant on oil, countries across the region are implementing ambitious national space programs. Alongside increased government investment, the region’s space industry is also attracting significant capital investment which is enabling innovation to take place at a rapid pace. According to a report written by Euroconsult (now Novaspace) for the Sultanate of Oman in 2024, the region’s space economy has tripled in the last decade to an estimated value of US$ 25 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 75 billion by 2032.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia in particular are making great strides in advancing their capabilities in space. For example, in 2021, the UAE Space Agency successfully launched its first Mars Mission, the Hope Probe, which entered orbit around Mars on its first attempt; two Emirati astronauts have undertaken space travel to board the ISS for a scientific mission; and the UAE is also overseeing an exploration mission to the main asteroid belt with the MBR Explorer spacecraft. Similarly, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in space technology and exploration and has also successfully sent astronauts to the ISS. It is currently in the process of developing the country’s second lunar rover and has committed to investing $2 billion to strengthen the countries space capabilities under the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 plan.
Countries across the region are investing in satellite technology, from the UAE’s launch of MBZ-Sat, an advanced 700kg Earth observation satellite launched earlier this year, to Oman’s Aman-1, an Earth observation nanosatellite, launched last year. Oman is also building the Etlaq Spaceport, due to open for commercial operations in 2027, which will capitalize on its location as being advantageous for satellite launches. Additionally, regional satellite operators such as Arabsat, Yahsat, and Es’hailSat are building partnerships with other key operators across the region, as they expand their fleets to better meet the increasing connectivity needs across the region.
Technical challenges facing satcom
Of course, industry expansion and development is rarely plain sailing, and the satcom industry in the Middle East region is facing similar technical challenges to the rest of the world. The global satellite industry is undergoing significant transformation, and this is creating new challenges that need to be understood and addressed. The rapid increase in satellite launches seen over recent years and the commercialization of LEO is leading to an increasingly congested spectrum which in turn raises challenges such as a potential increased risk of radio frequency interference. Additionally, the lack of standardisation around next-generation and specifically flat panel antennas is another critical issue impacting the entire industry.
The ground segment must also adapt to support innovation taking place in the space sector as the industry shifts towards a multi-orbit and multi-frequency environment. This requires the ground sector to be virtualised as much as possible as it transitions towards a cloud-based environment. A key aspect of this complex process is the need for a standardised approach to digital IF (intermediate frequency) which is being developed by the Digital Intermediate Frequency Interoperability (DIFI) Consortium. The industry also faces a skills gap with too few professionals in the industry holding the necessary technical skills, knowledge and expertise needed to fill all roles as the industry evolves. Workforce development is certainly a key focus within the Middle East region and will be a critical requirement if the region is to develop its space and satellite capabilities as desired.
SIG technical workshop
SIG will be holding a technical workshop in Dubai, UAE, on 12th May 2025, the day before Cabsat. The workshop will hosted by Arabsat and will take place opposite the Cabsat exhibition at the Fairmont Dubai Hotel. As always, the workshop will bring together technical people from across the satcom industry to discuss current and future challenges. The agenda is currently in progress but will include discussions around the key issues, mentioned above, impacting satcom today.
For those of you that are new to SIG, SIG technical workshops are discussion-led and aim to help the industry collaborate and move forward with solving current challenges, as well as fostering innovation. SIGs workshops are unique mix of operators and vendors, who through open conversation, come away with a better understanding of the solutions that are available, as well as what is needed.
For more information and to register for the workshop, visit the SIG website or contact info@satig.co.uk.