The UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority has granted Starlink a ten-year licence to establish, operate, and manage broadband satellite internet services in the country.
The licence is a General Space Services licence. TDRA said the approval covers individual consumers, businesses, government entities, and satellite connectivity services for the maritime and aviation sectors.
Coverage under the General Space Services licence
The scope reaches both private and public users, with maritime and aviation connectivity included alongside consumer and business service. TDRA said the authorisation adds a space-based layer to the country’s national digital infrastructure and diversifies internet access options beyond terrestrial fibre-optic and 5G networks.
TDRA’s operational conditions
The regulator said Starlink services in the UAE must comply with the country’s regulatory and technical frameworks. Those requirements include security, information infrastructure protection, service quality, reliability and continuity, consumer rights, data privacy, spectrum-use regulations, and technical coordination with relevant authorities.
Resilience and continuity claims from TDRA
TDRA director general Majed Sultan Al Mesmar said Starlink’s satellite network will enhance the resilience, readiness, and continuity of the national network under various conditions. He said it will also support maritime and aviation transport, energy, logistics, and emergency response.
Read for satellite connectivity bidders
The licence gives satellite connectivity buyers a concrete operating scope in the UAE: consumer, business, government, maritime, and aviation services are all included. The same approval also fixes the compliance envelope, which matters for service design, spectrum coordination, and local regulatory review.