Starlink launches satellite internet in UAE after securing 10-year licence

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Starlink has officially launched its satellite internet service in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), days after receiving a 10-year licence from the country’s telecommunications regulator.

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The company announced the launch on Thursday, September 3, in a post on its official X account, confirming that its high-speed, low-latency internet service is now available in the UAE.

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The launch follows approval from the UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which on August 28 granted Starlink Satellite Communications LLC a 10-year General Space Services License.

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The licence allows Starlink to establish and operate a public satellite communications network and provide broadband satellite internet services across the country.

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The approval covers consumers as well as businesses, government agencies and the maritime and aviation sectors.

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According to the TDRA, Starlink’s satellite connectivity will complement the UAE’s existing fibre-optic and 5G networks while providing additional connectivity options and strengthening the resilience of the country’s communications infrastructure.

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The regulator said the service could be particularly useful in sectors such as aviation, maritime transport, energy, logistics and emergency response, where reliable connectivity is essential.

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Starlink will operate under the UAE’s regulatory and technical requirements, including rules covering security, data privacy, service quality, reliability, consumer protection and spectrum use.

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The launch makes the UAE one of the latest countries to gain commercial access to Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit satellite internet service as it continues to expand across global markets.

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