SpaceMiningData
Government agencyUnited Arab EmiratesActive

UAE Space Agency

Federal space agency of the United Arab Emirates. A 2023 law-firm summary of Cabinet Decisions issued under the 2019 space-sector law (since repealed and replaced by Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2023) says space activities must be authorised by the agency and that Cabinet Decision No. 19/2023 (Space Resource Regulation) allows exploration, exploitation and use of space resources; the agency leads the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt, whose stated aims include assessing the resource potential of asteroids.

No level assigned

Facts

Headquarters
United Arab Emirates
Type
Government agency
Status
Activeas of 2026-09-25. Operating agency; mission news from April 2026 (The National) and the 2023 regulations.
Roles
Prospecting
Targets
Main-belt asteroid
Also known as
UAESA
Website
space.gov.ae

Missions

1 records
MissionRoleLaunchPhaseOutcome
Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) / MBR ExplorerSpacecraftOperatorPlanned 2028-03 (window)
Date details

Announcement date not recorded. Record checked 2026-09-25.

In developmentNot applicable

Open evidence gaps

  • space.gov.ae and uaelegislation.gov.ae returned bot walls; regulatory role is sourced to a law-firm summary (Watson Farley & Williams, 2023), not the regulation text. Whether the 2023 Cabinet Decisions remain in force under Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2023 was not confirmed.
  • Founding year not confirmed from an official page in this pass.

Record history

changes to this record's facts, newest first

ChangedFieldWasNowReasonSource
2026-09-26summary2019 space-sector law described without its 2023 repealnotes the 2023 Decree-Law that replaced itCorrection[4]

Sources

4 sources
  1. [1]Key features of the new United Arab Emirates regulations on space activities
    Watson Farley & WilliamsPressPublished 2023-08-10Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
    must be authorised by the UAE Space Agency
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Key features of the new United Arab Emirates regulations on space activities
    Watson Farley & WilliamsPressPublished 2023-08-10Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
    allows for the exploration, exploitation and use of space resources as part of a Space Resource Activity
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Mohammed bin Rashid: The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt is a significant scientific mission
    Government of Dubai Media OfficeGovernment recordPublished 2023-05-29Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
    the UAE Space Agency today announced the details and objectives of the EMA
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]Federal Decree by Law No. (46) of 2023 Concerning the Regulation of the Space Sector (UAE Legislation portal, archived copy of 15 April 2025)
    UAE Legislation portal (via Internet Archive)LegislationPublished 2023-09-29Accessed 2026-09-26Supports: summaryarticle Article 39(1)
    The aforementioned Federal Law No. (12) of 2019 concerning the Space Sector shall be repealed
    Quote matched the source text when accessed. Translation is unofficial.