Unmanned aerial vehicles – better known as drones – have been around for decades. However, it is only in recent times that they have begun to revolutionise sectors such as agriculture and logistics.

​

The technology’s potential is clear: the global market is projected to reach $58.4 billion by 2026.

​

In the GCC, the market is expected to reach $1.86 billion. This trend is being fuelled by both private use and applications within business and industry. 

“The National Space Strategy is progressing quickly, and I anticipate large-scale projects in the near future,” said Alex Cresniov. 

“The programme has the potential to turn the country into a regional hub for commercial space activities as well as a sophisticated research and development centre." 

​

“The UAE Mars Mission clearly shows that other parts of the world are capable and space-ready, too.”

Amid global geopolitical tensions and with the influx of CIS SpaceTehc talent into the Gulf region, it's an opportune time to establish Saudi Arabia as a neutral hub for international space collaboration, says Alex Cresniov, Director of Deep Knowledge Analytics. 

​

SpaceTech is one of the first sectors that comes to mind when we think of advanced technology and the trajectory of human progress. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) realised its potential and found something to offer the world.

"A Joint GCC Space Agency would enable R&D consolidation, cost sharing, independence from the global space community, and creation of a SpaceTech fund and accelerator," - Alex Cresniov, Director of Deep Knowledge Analytics.

​

Outer space will eventually be governed by the same geopolitical policies that exist here on Earth.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE stand out as the most advanced within the regional space race based on satellite launches, geospatial intelligence, and SpaceTech R&D. The two allocate the largest resources to space projects compared to their Gulf counterparts.

​

Saudi Arabia’s interest in space has grown significantly thanks to the King Abdulaziz City for Sciences and Technology (KACST) and the Saudi Space Commission (SSC).

Currently, UAE families take most of the responsobility for caring their elderly. The shift from the extended family model towards smaller nuclear families and the lack of sufficient old-age care facilities will pose challenges that can exacerbate the burden of old-age care. These evolving social dynamics and infrastructural limitations will also have an impact on the healthcare sector and the national economy.