Published 13 Nov 2025 

Following the increasing militarisation of outer space, governments worldwide are recognising that space situational awareness (SSA) is no longer a luxury - it is a strategic necessity. The ability to predict, detect, and characterise threats in orbit underpins every aspect of modern military and national security decision-making. For the United Arab Emirates, a country that has rapidly transitioned from an emerging space player to global policy leader, SSA represents both a shield and a source of strategic advantage.

Domestically, the UAE has been steadily developing technical capacity for space surveillance and monitoring. The UAE Space Agency (UAESA) has authority over national space safety, debris mitigation, and surveillance of space activities. Embedded in this framework is a clear recognition that SSA is vital to safeguarding national assets and ensuring resilience against disruption. The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) operates the UAE Meteor Monitoring Network (UAEMMN). Its primary purpose is to monitor natural meteors and fireballs entering Earth’s atmosphere. However, the system also detects artificial space-debris objects during atmospheric re-entry, since the optical cameras capture any bright entry events. These initiatives, coordinated under UAESA oversight, form the building blocks of the UAE’s sovereign SSA capability.

Space security cannot be achieved in isolation. The UAE recognised this early, becoming one of the first Middle Eastern nations to enter into a Space Situational Awareness Data Sharing Agreement with the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) in 2016. This arrangement enables the UAE to access and contribute to international orbital data repositories, enhancing its ability to detect and respond to potential threats.

Diplomatically, the UAE has emerged as a leading advocate for the safe and sustainable use of outer space. Earlier this year, it took a landmark step by proposing the establishment of an Expert Group on Space Situational Awareness (SSA) under the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). The UAE’s initiative, endorsed by a broad coalition of member states, was instrumental in the creation of this formal UN mechanism to advance data-sharing, transparency, and best practices in space operations. The UAE’s subsequent appointment as Chair of the Expert Group underscores its growing influence as a norm-shaper in global space governance.

Modern defence operations rely on secure, resilient, and responsive access to space-enabled systems for communications, navigation, and intelligence. SSA is the foundation for protecting those assets. To position itself to detect and interpret potential threats to its satellites and infrastructure, the UAE needs to continue to develop national frameworks for the sharing of space information, operational coordination, interoperability between systems and the creation of safety measures for space activities.

As regional powers continue to expand their military space capabilities, the UAE must embrace an approach that reflects the balance between defensive preparedness, diplomatic restraint and international cooperation. Space security begins with knowledge. The ability to see, understand, and anticipate activity in orbit is the ultimate strategic advantage. For the UAE, ensuring access to SSA data is a necessary tool for deterrence and a key component for national security. 

“Space security begins with knowledge. The ability to see, understand, and anticipate activity in orbit is the ultimate strategic advantage for the UAE.”

About the Author

Dr. Rebecca Connolly  is the 2025 McCain Fulbright Scholar at the United States Naval Academy, where she teaches on space power and international law. She was the Australian 2023 Thawley Scholar in International Security, conducting policy research on space and national security. Dr. Connolly serves as a Senior Expert at AzurX, contributing to strategic initiatives on space governance and national security in the Middle East. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of the SpaceCyT Institute based in Australia. Dr. Connolly has guest lectured at Harvard University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She earned her Master of Laws and PhD from the University of Sydney. Her research focuses on the intersection of strategy and legal governance for outer space, particularly its commercialization, militarization, and security dimensions.