SpaceChain Opens UAE Office
to Accelerate Space-as-a-Service Adoption in the
Middle East
March 16, 2022
SpaceChain announced the
opening of its UAE office in Abu Dhabi to mark its
foray into the burgeoning space sector in the Middle
East. Incorporated and operated under the legal
entity of SpaceChain MENA Ltd, the new office is
located at Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem,
where the company will spearhead the planning and
development of integrated space-blockchain projects
and initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) region.
The establishment of
SpaceChain's UAE office is a milestone forward in
advancing SpaceChain's decentralized satellite
infrastructure (DSI) for business and fintech
applications, and extending its space-as-a-service
capabilities to enterprises and communities across
the MENA region to create a next-generation
infrastructure for the blockchain industry in outer
space.
To date, SpaceChain has
successfully launched six blockchain-enabled
satellite payloads into space to realize its DSI
vision.
"Being part of the Hub71
community places SpaceChain at the gateway to the
burgeoning space industry in the MENA region. Our
presence alongside other high-growth tech companies
will allow us to share expertise and collaborate
with leading influential players in Abu Dhabi's
growing innovation ecosystem that are interested in
capitalizing on the New Space Economy," said Zee
Zheng, SpaceChain co-founder and CEO. "The space
industry in the Middle East is rapidly growing with
strong support from the UAE government and its
planned economic diversification from oil. We are
very excited to be contributing to the industry
growth by helping regional enterprises transition
into space-based businesses through the integration
of space and decentralized blockchain technology."
SpaceChain MENA will
collaborate closely with start-ups and organizations
in the space, blockchain and fintech arenas within
the region to uncover business and growth
opportunities across multiple service offerings,
including e-wallets, space commodities exchange,
micro-geoservices that connect Earth observation
service providers with user communities, and
decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
The UAE government has lent
strong support in developing a vibrant space
industry across the region. The National Space
Strategy 2030 aims to enhance the space sector's
contribution to the national economy and promote the
UAE's regional and international presence in the
space industry. It also sets the general framework
for the space sector and activities in the UAE for
the years leading up to 2030, including government
activities related to space, commercial activities;
scientific activities carried out by the public and
private sectors, and academic institutions and
research and development centers.
The UAE was also among the
first to launch a mission to Mars. Launched in July
2020, the Hope Probe (aka Emirates Mars Mission) was
the first uncrewed space exploration mission to Mars
to study weather events in the lower atmosphere of
the red planet.
Nick Trudgen, chief commercial
officer and co-founder of SpaceChain MENA, will be
responsible for charting the company's overall
growth across the region. He joined SpaceChain in
2017 and currently heads both SpaceChain's United
Kingdom (UK) and UAE offices.
"The UAE has laid a strong
foundation in establishing its space industry as a
sustainable economic enabler to benefit future
generations, and is executing on a comprehensive
action plan to develop specialized capabilities in
this field," said Nick Trudgen. "SpaceChain is proud
to be contributing to the growth of the UAE's space
sector by fueling growth in commercial activities,
and working in collaboration with organizations and
start-ups on harnessing space-as-a-service as a
platform for innovation."