As the space race in the Middle East intensifies, Saudi Arabia is making major strides in the sector to make its mark. Aligning with the kingdom’s investment of $2.1 billion in the sector, the Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) is establishing a space entrepreneurship alliance. It was announced at The Garage Disrupt, a tech event.  

The commission aims to create a strong foundation for innovation in the space industry by providing access to resources and services, such as shared workspaces and technical labs.   

The Deputy Governor of the Space Department at CST, Frank Salzgeber, said the alliance would create an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the sector. “It will be a platform to gather stakeholders to support Saudi entrepreneurs in innovation, as the Garage is the first to join this alliance.”  

The alliance will support accelerator programs, workshops, and hackathons, and connect entrepreneurs with investors and experts.  

The announcement follows Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approval of the creation of the Supreme Space Council in November, comprising Saudi government officials, including the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  

The Saudi Space Commission also launched the Saudi Space Accelerator Program in December to address the state of the kingdom’s space sector and propose proactive space solutions that will ignite the local ecosystem and determine its maturity level.