Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX, has officially launched in the United Arab Emirates, days after securing a 10-year licence from the country's telecommunications regulator.

The company announced the launch in a post on its official X account on Thursday, September 3, declaring that its service was now commercially available in the country.

"Starlink's high-speed, low-latency internet is now available in the United Arab Emirates!" the company wrote.

The announcement confirms commercial availability following the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) granting Starlink Satellite Communications LLC a 10-year General Space Services License on August 28. The licence authorises the company to establish, operate and manage a public satellite communications network and provide broadband satellite internet services nationwide.

Broader scope than residential users

The approval extends beyond individual residential customers. Under the licence, Starlink may serve businesses and government entities, as well as the maritime and aviation sectors.

According to the TDRA, the service will add a space-based layer to the UAE's digital infrastructure, complementing rather than replacing existing terrestrial fibre-optic and 5G networks. The regulator said satellite connectivity would diversify internet access options and improve the resilience, readiness and continuity of the country's communications networks under different conditions — a consideration particularly relevant for sectors requiring connectivity beyond traditional fixed and mobile infrastructure, including maritime transport, aviation, energy, logistics and emergency response.

The TDRA added that the licence would support connectivity solutions for critical sectors and areas needing additional internet access options, while strengthening the country's ability to respond to emergencies and crises.

Starlink delivers internet access via a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, an architecture designed to offer lower latency than traditional geostationary satellite services. The UAE launch adds the country to Starlink's expanding commercial footprint across the Middle East and internationally.

A significant regulatory milestone

The 10-year approval marks a significant regulatory step for the satellite internet provider in the UAE, where telecommunications services operate under a tightly regulated framework.

The TDRA said the licence was granted under the country's approved regulatory and technical frameworks, which include requirements covering security, information infrastructure protection, service quality, reliability, continuity, consumer rights and data privacy. Starlink must also comply with spectrum-use regulations and technical coordination requirements with relevant authorities, the regulator noted.

Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, director general of the TDRA, said the approval reflected the UAE's efforts to adopt advanced technologies while maintaining a regulatory environment that supports innovation and investment. He said the introduction of advanced satellite internet services would expand connectivity options, enhance network resilience and business continuity, and support the UAE's ambitions in telecommunications and the digital economy.

The launch enables Starlink to commercially offer its low-Earth-orbit satellite internet service across one of the Middle East's major digital and telecommunications markets. Its entry adds another layer to the UAE's connectivity infrastructure as the country continues to invest in fibre, 5G and other emerging communications technologies.

The full impact of Starlink's arrival will depend on how the service is adopted across the consumer, business and critical sectors covered by the new licence.