المملكة: Commitments to “space merchants”… and 100 thousand riyals for a resource exploitation license

I introduced Celestial bodies, extracting them, and then returning them to the Saudi region according to precise controls.

Bold Investments

The new regulations granted those authorized to exploit or process these resources, whether this was done directly on the surface of the celestial body, in orbit, or after they arrived on Earth.

The permitted activities were not limited to extraction only, but extended to include storing, transporting, and distributing resources and their by-products, and even buying and selling them. And export.

The draft approved the right of ownership for those authorized within the limits of applicable regulations, which enhances the attractiveness of the Saudi space sector for bold investments and stimulates continuous development.

The Authority linked the practice of these activities to obtaining prior official approval, and required the possession of a license to operate the space object used, whether it is inhabited by humans or unmanned.

In cases that require the return of resources to the Kingdom, the Authority obligated the operators to obtain Additional licenses for space flights to ensure the highest levels of safety.

A fundamental condition

The Authority set a fundamental condition requiring the applicant to disclose his desire to own space resources within the submitted application, without prejudice to the relevant sovereign regulations.

Within the framework of the obligations, the Authority imposed on those authorized to provide data that supports scientific and research awareness, and contribute to enriching national knowledge about these new resources.

The regulations required providing the Authority with samples of the resources. Extracted upon request, specifying their quantities and types for the purposes of verification and careful supervisory follow-up.

To protect the market, the Authority prohibited any practices that might disrupt fair competition or negatively affect the integrity of the investment environment in the Saudi space sector.

The regulations stressed strict procedures when returning resources to Earth, including providing isolation and disinfection capabilities to prevent any potential environmental or biological contamination.

The Authority specified the application mechanism through the electronic licensing system, stipulating Attach the commercial registry, an introductory summary, and contact information to ensure the transparency of the procedures.

The procedures require providing precise details about the activity schedule, and the type and quantity of targeted resources, whether the purpose is commercial, research, or logistical.

It also obliges applicants to submit a comprehensive record of potential risks, a clear plan to reduce space debris, and a comprehensive assessment of the environmental and economic impact of the proposed activity.

License Fees

The Authority stressed the need to submit all documents in Arabic, While allowing the attachment of supporting documents in English, to unify review and audit standards.

With regard to time periods, the Authority left determining the duration of the permit to the nature of the activity and implementation plans, while establishing a flexible mechanism for renewal that ensures continued compliance with the standards.

The Authority asked those authorized to inform it 48 hours before the start of operations, and to confirm the progress of work 48 hours after implementation to ensure real-time monitoring.

On the financial level, the Authority set licensing fees for space resources activities at 100 thousand riyals, which is the same amount specified for space monitoring and tracking licenses.

The regulations stated that the fee for operating a single space object is 30 thousand riyals, while the fee jumps to 100 thousand riyals when operating a multiple satellite system.

The cost of a license to launch unmanned orbital vehicles is 100 thousand riyals for each operation, while fees for tests and experiments are set at two thousand riyals only.

With regard to With manned flights, the Authority set an amount of 100,000 riyals as fees for launching and operating capsules and manned orbital vehicles for each launch.

The fees also included an amount of 30,000 riyals for building space ports, and 100,000 riyals for operating these ports, to cover operational and regulatory costs.

The Authority concluded the list of fees by setting two thousand riyals for permits for support flights and sonic rockets, which completes the pricing system for the promising space sector.

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