UAE Grants SpaceX's Starlink 10-Year Satellite Service License

On August 28, the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) announced that it had granted SpaceX's satellite internet business, Starlink, a 10-year general satellite service license. The license authorizes Starlink to establish, operate, and manage public satellite telecommunications networks within the UAE, providing satellite broadband internet services and supporting key sectors including maritime, aviation, energy, logistics, and emergency response.

In early September, Emirates Airlines flights from Shanghai to Dubai began offering Starlink connectivity. In-flight service notices indicated that the entire aircraft is equipped with Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi. Passengers departing from Shanghai who activated flight mode and connected to Wi-Fi on the ground saw a message from Starlink stating that service was not yet available in the current region. Once the aircraft flew over Chengdu, the network connection was successfully established.