The UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) is considering new regulations that could allow low-Earth-orbit satellite operators such as Starlink to operate in the country. The authority has opened a public consultation on rules to “regularise the current resale of satellite services,” with feedback accepted until September 25.
The proposed framework includes a new “category B” licence that would enable a broader range of businesses and entities to sell connectivity devices and services, including Starlink internet terminals. Currently, only entities with an existing telecoms licence can provide such services.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, is listed as “pending regulatory approval” in the UAE, though it already holds a 10-year licence issued in 2024 for maritime satellite internet services. In the Middle East, Starlink operates in Qatar, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Israel, providing connectivity in remote and desert areas.
Jimmy Grewal, Executive Director of Dubai-based marine electronics company Elcome International, welcomed the TDRA’s open consultation, calling it a step toward safe, next-generation satellite connectivity across the UAE. Elcome, one of the world’s first and largest Starlink resellers, hopes the framework will enable it to offer Starlink in its home market, benefiting government, maritime, aviation, and offshore energy sectors.
