Legislation Details
- Full Title: Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations
- Law Type: Cabinet Resolution
- Law Number: No. (204) of 2025
- Issued Date: 27 Nov 2025
- Effective Date: 13 Dec 2025
- Official Gazette: No. 813
- Sector: Telecommunication, Technology and Space
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 21
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Cabinet Resolution regulates space resource activities in the United Arab Emirates. It establishes the obligations and requirements for operators conducting space resource exploration, exploitation, and utilization, including safety, environmental, and international legal considerations. The resolution also addresses property rights over extracted space resources and the establishment of national databases to track such activities. This legislation is important for businesses and individuals engaged in the emerging space resources sector in the UAE, as it provides a clear legal framework to guide their operations. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The provisions of this Cabinet Resolution apply to space resource activities conducted by persons holding UAE nationality, companies headquartered in the UAE, or foreign companies operating within the UAE. The purpose is to regulate the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of space resources, whether for commercial, scientific, or other purposes. This includes activities such as the extraction, recovery, refining, processing, transportation, and storage of space resources. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 2)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The key definition provided in this resolution is:
- Space Resource Activities: Activities related to the exploration, exploitation, and utilization of space resources, including the extraction, recovery, refining, processing, utilization, acquisition, purchase, sale, trading, transportation, or storage of space resources, as well as logistics-related activities conducted in outer space, such as the transportation, storage, or supply of space resources. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The main obligations and requirements for operators conducting space resource activities include: 1. Not undertaking any activity that would pose a risk to the UAE's ability to comply with international legal obligations. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 3(1)(a)) 2. Providing the UAE Space Agency with all required information, including technical information and risk assessments. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 3(1)(b)) 3. Demonstrating that necessary measures have been taken to prevent or mitigate risks to safety, property, the environment, and ongoing space activities. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 3(1)(c)) 4. Regularly informing the Agency of the progress of space resource activities and complying with instructions issued by the Agency in emergencies or when material risks arise. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 3(2)) 5. Complying with all applicable regulations issued by the Cabinet and the UAE Space Agency. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 3(4))
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The legislation does not specify any licensing, registration, or approval requirements for conducting space resource activities. However, it does state that operators must obtain an "Authorization" from the UAE Space Agency prior to commencing such activities. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 3(1))
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The resolution grants operators the right to exercise property rights recognized under UAE legislation over any space resources explored, exploited, or utilized through their authorized space resource activities. This includes the right to own, purchase, sell, trade, transport, store, use, or dispose of the extracted space resources. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 6)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The UAE Space Agency is the primary authority responsible for the enforcement of this Cabinet Resolution. The Agency is tasked with the following: 1. Maintaining a national database of information regarding the purposes, locations, and duration of authorized space resource activities to determine priority rights. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 5(1)) 2. Maintaining a national database of the results of space resource activities based on information submitted by operators. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 5(2)) 3. Issuing the necessary executive resolutions for the implementation of this resolution. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 8)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The legislation does not specify any penalties for non-compliance with the provisions of this Cabinet Resolution.
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The legislation does not specify any fees, charges, or other financial provisions related to space resource activities.
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The legislation does not provide any exemptions or exceptions to the scope of this Cabinet Resolution.
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The legislation does not specify any dispute resolution mechanisms or procedures under this Cabinet Resolution.
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The legislation does not specify any deadlines or time limits for the conduct of space resource activities or the submission of reports to the UAE Space Agency.
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
This Cabinet Resolution is related to the following UAE federal laws and regulations: 1. Federal Decree by Law No. (46) of 2023 Regarding the Regulation of the Space Sector 2. Federal Decree by Law No. (47) of 2023 Regarding the Reorganization of the UAE Space Agency 3. Federal Decree No. (85) of 2000 Regarding the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, and the Two Agreements related thereto 4. Cabinet Resolution No. (19) of 2023 Regarding the Space Resources Regulations (which is repealed by this new resolution) (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Cabinet Resolution was issued on 27 November 2025 and came into effect on 13 December 2025, the day following its publication in the Official Gazette No. 813. (Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations, 2025, Art. 10)
Source Documents
This article analyses Cabinet Resolution Regarding the Space Resources Regulations for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.