UAE Space Sector Spending Takes Off With 6.6% Increase
UAE space sector spending increased by more than 6.6 per cent and the country is on its way to becoming a leading global hub for a growing industry.
The UAE Space Agency has announced the findings of the 2021 Space Economic Survey.
This survey aimed to measure the performance of the national space sector, support its growth, and reinforce the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for attracting talent, investment, and innovation.
The announcement was made in the presence of Sarah Al Amiri, Chairperson of UAE Space Agency, and Hanan Al Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre.
The 2023 Space Economic Survey 2023 was also launched to measure the space sector’s contribution to the national economy, and provide a clear overview of this strategic and pioneering sector.
The UAE Space Agency called on its strategic partners, entities, and companies operating in the national space sector to participate in this survey, and contribute to achieving its objectives and strengthening national capabilities.
The survey highlighted that the total spending in the UAE’s space sector witnessed a 6.61 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Government spending accounted for 55.7 per cent of the total spending, marking a 12.7 per cent increase year-on-year, while commercial expenditure made up 44.3 per cent of the total.
In terms of research and development (R&D) spending, the survey showed a 14.8 per cent increase, with R&D for space exploration accounting for 76.8 per cent of the total.
Emirati nationals comprise 38.5 per cent of the space sector workforce.
Additionally, the survey revealed that 59.2 per cent of the employees in the UAE’s space sector are Emirati youth.
The survey also demonstrated that 54.4 per cent of the entities benefiting from the services and applications provided by space-related organisations were based in the country.
The communications sector was the biggest beneficiary, followed by other sectors such as security, education, tourism, and entertainment.
Furthermore, the survey revealed an 83.6 per cent increase in scientific publications.
