The UAE’s telecommunications regulator has granted Starlink a 10-year General Space Services Licence, allowing Elon Musk’s satellite broadband operator to build and manage a public network across the country. Services will extend to individuals, businesses, government entities, maritime vessels and aircraft, according to the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.
The regulator said the additional technology would “broaden the range of connectivity options available across the country and strengthen the resilience of the UAE’s digital infrastructure,” noting that satellite links can serve as a backup during emergencies when terrestrial networks are unavailable.
Starlink’s entry adds a new option alongside the UAE’s existing fibre-optic and 5G networks, and licensed operators must meet what the regulator described as strict standards for security, reliability and consumer protection. The move follows similar licensing decisions Starlink has secured in other Gulf and international markets as it expands its low-earth-orbit satellite constellation.
