UAE To Launch Space Tourism Next Year, With Flights Starting From Dh600,000

Space tourism will start in the UAE next year, with flights cost starting from Dh600,000, reaching the edge of the stratosphere at 40,000 meters and allowing space tourists to enjoy stunning views of space during the five-hour trip.

Kemel Kharbachi, Founder and CEO of European space firm EOS-X Space, said Tuesday that the company is all set to start space flights in Abu Dhabi and Spain around the third quarter of 2025.

"For now, we are offering an ultra-luxury product aimed at high-net-worth individuals, with around 20 million potential customers worldwide. These 'ultra-rich' individuals, along with affluent people capable of spending between €150,000 and €200,000 for an unparalleled experience, are our target market," Kharbachi was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.

"The development of space tourism offers investment prospects as vast and promising as human curiosity. There will come a time, similar to the aviation industry when this way of seeing the world becomes much more accessible," he added.

Kharbachi and his management team expect combined revenues from Spain and Abu Dhabi to reach $353 million in their first year, with a profit margin of 19%. Furthermore, they aim for a turnover of $1.127 billion and a profit of $324 million by 2029.

The company is currently completing the development of the Spaceship One manned capsules and will soon test them with military pilots in partnership with Spain's National Institute for Aerospace Technology (Inta).

EOS-X Space's pressurized capsules can hold up to eight people including a pilot and are lifted by an eco-friendly helium balloon.

These flights will reach the edge of the stratosphere at 40,000 meters, letting space tourists enjoy stunning views of space, the blue halo, and Earth's curvature during a five-hour trip, unlike Blue Origin's 11-minute rocket flight.

The Spanish company said passengers don't need intense preparation. However, there will be a personalized week-long program with cultural, gastronomic, regenerative medicine, and wellness experiences.

The cost per passenger ranges from €150,000 (Dh600,000) to €200,000 (Dh800,000), depending on the package. EOS-X Space pointed out that other firms use rockets for space flights, costing passengers about a million dollars for a brief experience that requires extensive training and physical fitness.

The company also announced that Abu Dhabi will host their most ambitious complex globally, including the shuttle, spaceport, and a hotel complex on Yas Island. Another facility is planned for Tulum, Mexico, and is expected to be operational by 2026.