The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to launch its space tourism industry next year, with space flights scheduled to take off in the third quarter of 2025. These trips will start from Rs45.5 million (UAE Dh600,000). This initiative, spearheaded by European space firm EOS-X Space, will see flights from Abu Dhabi and Spain.
Kemel Kharbachi, founder and CEO of EOS-X Space, revealed that the development of the Spaceship One manned capsules is nearing completion. Essential validation tests will soon be conducted with military pilots in collaboration with Spain’s prestigious National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA).
These pressurized capsules, which can accommodate up to eight people including a pilot, will be lifted by eco-friendly helium balloons. The capsules will reach the edge of the stratosphere at an altitude of 40,000 meters, offering space tourists breathtaking views of space, the blue halo, and Earth’s curvature during a five-hour trip. This contrasts with Blue Origin’s 11-minute rocket flight.
Unlike other space tourism firms that require extensive training and physical fitness for brief experiences costing around a million dollars, EOS-X Space’s passengers will undergo a personalized week-long program. This program will feature cultural, gastronomic, regenerative medicine, and wellness experiences. The cost per passenger will range between €150,000 (Dh600,000) and €200,000 (Dh800,000), depending on the chosen package.
In a detailed announcement, the company outlined that Abu Dhabi will host its most ambitious complex globally, featuring not only the shuttle and the spaceport but also a hotel complex on Yas Island. Another facility is planned for Tulum, Mexico, and is expected to be operational by 2026.
“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 stated.
Globally, the space tourism market is estimated at over $9 billion. “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,” Kharbachi added.
Kharbachi and his management team estimate that combined revenues from Spain and Abu Dhabi could reach $353 million in the launch year, with a gross profit margin of 19 percent. By 2029, the company aims to achieve a turnover of $1.127 billion and a gross profit of $324 million, marking a profit growth of 23.3 percent compared to the previous year. The planned investment for the Abu Dhabi and Seville complexes will surpass $230 million in engineering and development.
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