Scotland has signed a new agreement aimed at expanding cooperation with the United Arab Emirates in the space sector, following a Letter of Intent between industry body Space Scotland and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, according to the company.
The agreement sets out plans to deepen collaboration in areas including satellite manufacturing, launch services and research. It also establishes a framework for increased business cooperation, trade activity and joint industry events intended to create commercial opportunities for organisations in both countries, according to the Scottish Government.
The partnership reflects what the Scottish Government describes as Scotland’s growing role in the European space sector, including its position as a major producer of small satellites and its progress toward domestic launch capability. These developments are presented as aligning with the UAE’s expanding space programme, which includes ambitions in lunar exploration, Earth observation and space science.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said the agreement builds on Scotland’s existing international engagement in space. “Scotland’s space industry has for some time been punching above its weight internationally,” he said, adding that closer ties with the UAE are expected to create opportunities in collaboration, skills and investment. Lochhead also pointed to projections that the global space market could exceed £1.3 trillion by 2035, according to government estimates.
Daniel Smith, the Scottish Government’s Trade and Investment Envoy for Space, described the Letter of Intent as a mechanism for structured international engagement. “It provides a practical framework for joint activity and reaffirms Scotland’s commitment to working with world-class partners to unlock new opportunities in space,” he said.
Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie said the agreement could support commercial and research activity in advanced satellite technologies, sustainability and space security, according to the organisation. “These collaborations will help drive the growth of high-value companies capable of delivering long-term economic benefit for Scotland,” he said.
According to background figures cited by the Scottish Government, Scotland’s space sector employs more than 7,000 people based on 2017 to 2018 data and generates £381 million in annual income. More than 240 organisations are reported to operate within the country’s space ecosystem.
The agreement follows recent Scottish Government efforts to promote the sector internationally, including a trade and investment visit to the UAE earlier this year and ministerial engagement at the Space Economy Summit in the United States, according to government statements.
