Orbital Infrastructure as a Pillar of the Digital State: Q&A with Anna Hazlett
"Investing in space is now inseparable from investing in the digital state itself.”
"Investing in space is now inseparable from investing in the digital state itself.”
"Investing in space is now inseparable from investing in the digital state itself.”
As Multipolitan curates its fourth flagship publication, The Digital State Project, it highlights how nations are redefining sovereignty, governance, and industrial strategy in the digital age. In this context, orbital infrastructure is no longer a niche asset; it is now a core component of a nation’s digital stack, underpinning communications, Earth observation, AI-driven analytics, and space-enabled services that are critical for both security and economic growth.
From a space-sector perspective, the Gulf is emerging as a proving ground for these principles. Sovereign capital, strategic procurement, and regulatory innovation are combining to create investable, high-impact space ventures. Recurring revenue from tasking contracts, data subscriptions, hosted payload slots, and mission services, coupled with declining launch costs and modular satellite platforms, is transforming one-off projects into predictable, bankable operations. Government anchors, industrial partnerships, and blended finance mechanisms further de-risk investment, while initiatives like Space SEZs, orbital residency programs, and networked governance models point to a future where space stations, orbital tourism, and the broader orbital economy are integral to a nation’s digital infrastructure, though in orbit, different rules may apply, and the market itself can experiment, innovate, and coordinate activity even before formal nation-state frameworks are fully defined.
Taken together, these trends suggest that investing in space is now inseparable from investing in the digital state itself. Whether through sovereign-led projects or market-driven, decentralized frameworks including DAOs, tokenization, and on-chain governance, the Gulf and similar regions are demonstrating how orbital capabilities can deliver both immediate operational value and long-term industrial and economic leverage, making space a foundational layer of national digital strategy.
Q: What are the strongest triggers driving investment into space ventures right now?
There are a few big triggers we are seeing today. First is the shift toward data-as-a-service, high-frequency Earth observation, persistent communications, and sensor fusion are turning what used to be one-off missions into recurring revenue streams for governments and enterprises. Second, declining launch and platform costs are a game-changer: small-sat rideshares, higher flight cadence, and modular satellite platforms mean ventures can reach product-market fit faster and with lower upfront capital. Third, government anchor demand is huge; when defence, mapping, or emergency response agencies step in early, they de-risk the investment and give companies scaling visibility. And finally, sovereign capital and industrial policy are increasingly strategic drivers, with nations investing not just for returns but for jobs, data sovereignty, and long-term industrial capability. Layered on top, enabling infrastructure and standards, cloud-native ground systems, software-defined satellites, and clearer regulatory pathways make the whole ecosystem investable.
Taken together, these factors are driving the global space economy toward over $1 trillion by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors for private capital, public policy, and cross-border partnerships.
Q: What does a bankable project look like today for private investors? Who is the anchor customer? How should risk, liability, and insurance be structured?
A bankable project is one where the revenue is predictable, the margins are defensible, and there is a credible path to exit. Investors (like in any other sector) are looking for recurring, contractable revenue, such as tasking contracts, data subscriptions, mission services, or hosted payload slots backed by technical de-risking, such as flight heritage or short demonstration missions. Strong commercial routes to market matter too, whether that’s government MOUs, integration with analytics platforms, or strategic partnerships. Financial discipline and staged funding tied to milestones are key.
In terms of anchor customers, governments often play that role, such as defence agencies, civil authorities, or national space agencies, because they provide early revenue and credibility. We also see large infrastructure and energy firms, as well as airlines and hyperscalers, buying imagery or communications capacity. Essentially, government or sovereign customers de-risk the early stage, which then attracts private capital.
We can think about risk in layers. At the project level, manufacturers and operators typically carry workmanship and launch insurance. At the mission level, in-orbit operational risk is covered for the life of the asset, including third-party liability. Then, contractually, you need clear indemnities and performance SLAs with customers, especially around spectrum, export control, and cybersecurity. For strategic national assets, partial sovereign guarantees or regional pooled risk facilities can dramatically lower capital costs for early missions.
The rapid expansion of commercial space activities is creating a major opportunity for the insurance sector. As satellites, reusable launch systems, and in-orbit services multiply, new coverage areas are emerging across launch, data, and liability risks. Insurers can play a pivotal role in enabling investment confidence and operational continuity, while addressing emerging challenges such as space debris, cybersecurity, and climate-linked data systems. Ultimately, insurance stands to become a cornerstone of a secure, sustainable, and investable space economy.
Q: In a multipolar capital world, which regions are taking the most proactive stance on space investment, and where do you see meaningful cross-bloc collaboration?
We see real momentum from the US - both venture and defence markets; Europe with industrial-policy-backed investment, China and India with state-led scale, and the Gulf with sovereign capital and rapid procurement appetite. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is particularly proactive: they have forged strong international collaborations to get its national space programs off the ground. Partners from South Korea, France, the US, and other nations were instrumental in providing technical expertise, mission support, and training to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the UAE Space Agency during the early development of the country’s national space initiatives.
The UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) also create structured pathways for cross-bloc collaboration, lowering regulatory friction for joint projects and investment. Cross-bloc collaboration tends to be most productive where commercial incentives align - in commercial data markets, co-invested infrastructure like launch and ground stations, and standards around spectrum or debris mitigation. Bilateral industrial MoUs and public-private partnerships that clearly separate strategic control from commercial provision are often the most pragmatic way to cooperate, and the UAE’s CEPA frameworks are helping pave the way for closer cross-bloc space collaboration.
Q: How do you read the Gulf today: where is the GCC strong, and where are the gaps for investors and operators?
Among the fastest-growing space sectors in terms of budget and expenditure can be found in the Gulf. Here, nations are building ambitious space programs - particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia - investing billions of dollars in satellites, advanced space technologies, and critical infrastructure in one of the most geopolitically consequential regions in the world. What makes the Gulf unique is its crossroads between continents and markets; it’s the most cosmopolitan region I have ever lived in! The geography is highly strategic for equatorial and hemispheric coverage, and proximity to Africa, Asia, and Central and Eastern European, Middle East markets, with 80% of the world’s population within an eight-hour flight, making it incredibly attractive. Capital meets political will here: the region can stand up supply chains, manufacturing, and supporting infrastructure rapidly, while also having the means to export to global markets.
Investors can benefit from the region’s strong financial, legal, and arbitration frameworks, such as ADGM, BFH, DIFC, and KAFD, combined with reliable local insurance capacity and visibility into upcoming projects. This creates the confidence needed for long-term investment. Technical ecosystems are still maturing, and a clear strategic roadmap for space is in some cases still in progress across the Gulf, which can make securing anchor customers and funding more challenging. Legal and regulatory harmonisation across the GCC is limited, and uncertainties remain around spectrum allocation, O&M, and export control alignment.
The Gulf is ideal for blended finance, combining sovereign anchor capital with private upside, and for running fast pilot projects. But capturing long-term value requires deliberate capability-building: training, supplier development, and R&D-to-commercialisation partnerships.
Q: As space reshapes geopolitics and economics, what concrete steps can economies take to turn space spending into near-term security gains and long-term industrial edge?
In the near term, governments should prioritise dual-use services that deliver immediate security value, for example, persistent ISR, maritime domain awareness, or resilient communications. Procuring these initially from commercial providers allows services to scale while helping to meet local requirements. Close collaboration with providers to design and execute pilot projects is where we are seeing strong foundations being formed. Demonstrators should be integrated into both defence and civil operations from the outset, as we are seeing with the UAE’s national space champion Space42 and ICEYE’s partnership, as well as FADA’s upcoming Sirb SAR constellation in the UAE.
Looking further ahead, long-term advantage comes from building domestic capabilities and laying the foundation for sovereign systems. This includes investing in workforce pipelines, insisting on local content in procurement, and seeding industrial corridors spanning propulsion, structures and composites, avionics, payloads, software, ground systems, and manufacturing infrastructure, with grants or concessional capital. For emerging space nations like the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, procurement should be explicitly tied to technology and knowledge transfer, with measurable KPIs to ensure tangible local value creation.
This is where we (AzurX) add real impact: advising commercial space enterprises, governments, and sovereign funds on structuring blended finance, anchoring localisation, supporting early procurement with private co-investment, and facilitating partnerships for high-technology access and deployment. By connecting local stakeholders with global technical and industrial partners, AzurX ensures that space spending supports the development of sovereign systems, delivering immediate operational capability and building a sustainable industrial base for the future.
Q: What governance and security frameworks would keep access to orbit safe, open, and investable? And how can the GCC earn a meaningful seat at the rule-making table on spectrum, debris, and cyber?
Access to orbit will remain investable only if there are clear, enforceable, and internationally recognised rules for safety, liability, and operations, including orbital traffic management, debris mitigation standards, spectrum allocation, and cybersecurity protocols. The GCC is already taking meaningful steps in this direction. For example, Saudi Arabia hosts an annual Space Debris Conference in Riyadh, bringing together international experts and stakeholders to discuss responsible orbital behaviour and policy frameworks. Organized with the Saudi Space Agency and supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the event highlights the Kingdom’s leadership in promoting sustainable space operations and global cooperation. The UAE Space Agency addresses space debris and space situational awareness through its National Space Debris Monitoring and Mitigation Program, a network of observatories, and international collaborations. Dubai’s DIFC Courts of Space initiative is pioneering a legal framework for dispute resolution in space-related commercial activities, while Bahrain is actively engaging with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency responsible for global spectrum allocation and satellite coordination, to shape spectrum rules and promote international cooperation.
By actively engaging in multilateral bodies, leading regional conferences and initiatives, and strengthening domestic frameworks, the GCC can build credibility and influence. This demonstrates to international investors and partners that the region is taking proactive steps, aligned with global norms, to make the space domain safer, more transparent, and more investable.
Q: What should data sovereignty look like end-to-end (tasking, downlink, storage, processing, and cross-border distribution), and which elements must remain under local control?
Data sovereignty should be approached through a risk-tiered framework. Critical control points, such as tasking authorizations for national security imagery, initial downlink of regulated data, custody of sensitive raw feeds, and accident or incident logs, must remain within national jurisdiction to ensure trust and security. Non-sensitive processing, including aggregated analytics, commercial workflows, and AI-enabled insights, can be conducted in the cloud or cross-border under robust contractual and technical safeguards. The principle is clear: keep the control plane local, allow the data plane to be hybrid, supported by strong SLAs, encryption, and independently audited transfer frameworks.
For example, when it comes to Earth Observation (EO), this approach ensures that imagery for defense, environmental monitoring, disaster response, or infrastructure planning remains under sovereign control while enabling broader analytical applications, commercial services, and climate monitoring to scale internationally. For LEO constellations, it allows nations to manage tasking, telemetry, and sensitive payloads locally, while supporting high-throughput communications, data aggregation, and cross-border cloud processing to optimize global coverage and efficiency.
By applying this model, space-faring nations can protect critical national intelligence and strategic assets while unlocking commercial innovation, international collaboration, and investment. Satellites and sensors thus become engines of insight, industrial growth, and regional leadership, making the space data ecosystem both secure and scalable across EO and LEO operations.
Q: How would you design a partnership architecture between governments, sovereign funds, and private firms so the region can move fast now while building durable sovereign capacity?
From AzurX’s perspective, the fastest way for the Gulf to establish a resilient and investable space ecosystem is through partnerships that combine rapid execution with long-term sovereign impact. Governments and sovereign funds should provide early-stage capital to kickstart rapid demonstrators and pilot programs, while multi-year contracts give operators the stability needed to scale operations and attract talent. Private investors are then brought in once initial milestones are achieved, aligned through equity participation, revenue-sharing, and co-investment structures that incentivize both performance and long-term growth.
Every partnership we design goes beyond funding. We focus on transferring technical expertise, developing local talent pipelines, and establishing shared industrial and operational infrastructure. This ensures the region not only moves quickly to capture near-term opportunities but also builds durable sovereign capabilities, creating a foundation for decades of innovation, economic value, and strategic autonomy in space. AzurX plays a central role as the connector, linking regional stakeholders with global technical and industrial partners, ensuring that every dollar of space investment delivers both immediate operational impact and sustainable industrial growth.
Q: If you would like to wear your imaginative hat, we would like you to explore some more of the concepts below.
These ideas collectively outline a practical architecture for a space ecosystem that balances sovereignty, innovation, and commercial opportunity. They offer a blueprint for how we could operate both on Earth and in orbit, unlocking pathways to a thriving, investable space economy.
Space SEZ / Regulatory Sandbox – In the UAE, space economic zones are emerging across the seven emirates to distribute the industry’s economic impact, clustering specific activities and subsectors based on location. A one-stop virtual zone for satellite operations, Earth observation services, launch testing, and orbital station support could fast-track approvals, spectrum allocation, safety permits, and export controls, reducing friction for operators while enabling cross-emirate and cross-bloc alignment with partner organizations and allied nations. This applies both on Earth and in space: the space economy will require economic zones and regulatory sandboxes, not just terrestrial ones. The UAE’s existing regulatory sandbox (which is sector agnostic) already serves as a hub for rapid demonstrators and commercial pilots, while safeguarding strategic interests. In orbit, similar principles could apply: orbital platforms could host SEZs and regulatory sandboxes to accelerate the growth of the space economy while protecting national and commercial priorities.
Alternative Residency & Orbital Resident Card – In my work on space stations and designing mixed-use business parks and new markets in orbit, we have been exploring the idea of an alternative residency and “Orbital Resident Card.” This concept extends the notion of digital citizenship into the orbital environment itself. A digital state in space could become a hub for founders, entrepreneurs, operators, and investors, offering a form of digital residence on purpose-built space platforms or “orbital nations” connected to cross-bloc allied platforms in orbit or on Earth. Residency could be linked to sponsoring operators or states, supporting both short-term missions and long-term programs, and enabling a flexible, investable pathway for talent and enterprise in the orbital economy. Back on Earth, residents could gain access to know-how, labs, training, orbital station modules, and expedited clearances through Earth-based programs, encouraging clusters of space-tourism operators, researchers, scientists, and private astronauts while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Citizenship in a Spatial Body / Network State – Members could co-fund missions, co-manage shared orbital assets, or operate orbital platforms, creating a digital-state-like governance structure in space. Open calls, small bounties, and standardized protocols enable startups, station projects, and tourism initiatives to scale efficiently, while agreements with sponsoring states or allied blocs provide legal clarity and enforceable rights. Citizenship could also confer access to shared resources, voting on operational decisions, and revenue or tokenized ownership of outputs, aligning incentives across participants. By combining collaborative governance, programmable rules, and transparent asset management, this approach creates a flexible, investable, and resilient framework for orbital activity that complements sovereign oversight without replacing it.
Domicile & Rulebook in Space – Companies could register on Earth but operate under a clear, pre-agreed legal framework for orbital station activities, for instance, specifying court jurisdiction, safety standards, insurance requirements, and commercial rights. This approach makes complex operations from orbital hotels and research labs to logistics hubs and manufacturing platforms, or even space resource mining, legally and financially tractable, while giving investors and insurers the certainty needed to support growth. By codifying rules upfront, it also enables cross-border collaboration, standardizes operational protocols, and reduces friction for new entrants, helping to build a resilient and scalable orbital economy.
Travel & Work Credentials – Imagine a digital-state visa for space: a single credential that bundles visa, access, crew license, medical clearance, and insurance. Mutual recognition across jurisdictions and orbital platforms would allow tourists, researchers, and crew to move seamlessly between Earth and orbit, supporting orbital tourism, scientific missions, and commercial operations. Beyond logistics, this digital credential becomes a gateway to participation in the orbital economy, enabling a mobile, legally recognized workforce and creating a foundation for investable, cross-border space ventures. Together, these concepts create a layered, scalable orbital ecosystem: sovereign oversight secures critical operations, streamlined pathways attract top talent and investment, and infrastructure supports space stations, orbital tourism, and the broader space economy, positioning the Gulf as a potential hub for next-generation space activity if adopted. Alternatively, market-driven models could emulate these principles using network-state frameworks, DAOs, tokenization, and on-chain governance, enabling decentralized coordination of orbital projects, shared ownership of assets, and programmable operational rules. Exploring these intersections between sovereign authority, private enterprise, and decentralized architectures could unlock both new governance models and the economics of space, creating scalable, investable pathways for orbital activity.
About Anna Hazlett, Founder & Principal of AzurX | AzurX Space Ventures
AzurX is a leading UAE-based advisory and venture firm focused on scaling space and space-enabled technology companies. AzurX works at the intersection of strategy, investment, and innovation, supporting governments, sovereign funds, and private firms in building sustainable, high-impact space ecosystems. Anna serves on the Fund Advisory & Decision Committee of the AED 2 billion Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF), mentors Saudi Arabia’s CST Space Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, is a board observer for Space Intelligence, and sits on the Global Space Awards Steering Committee.
www.azurx.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/azurx
As Multipolitan curates its fourth flagship publication, The Digital State Project, it highlights how nations are redefining sovereignty, governance, and industrial strategy in the digital age. In this context, orbital infrastructure is no longer a niche asset; it is now a core component of a nation’s digital stack, underpinning communications, Earth observation, AI-driven analytics, and space-enabled services that are critical for both security and economic growth.
From a space-sector perspective, the Gulf is emerging as a proving ground for these principles. Sovereign capital, strategic procurement, and regulatory innovation are combining to create investable, high-impact space ventures. Recurring revenue from tasking contracts, data subscriptions, hosted payload slots, and mission services, coupled with declining launch costs and modular satellite platforms, is transforming one-off projects into predictable, bankable operations. Government anchors, industrial partnerships, and blended finance mechanisms further de-risk investment, while initiatives like Space SEZs, orbital residency programs, and networked governance models point to a future where space stations, orbital tourism, and the broader orbital economy are integral to a nation’s digital infrastructure, though in orbit, different rules may apply, and the market itself can experiment, innovate, and coordinate activity even before formal nation-state frameworks are fully defined.
Taken together, these trends suggest that investing in space is now inseparable from investing in the digital state itself. Whether through sovereign-led projects or market-driven, decentralized frameworks including DAOs, tokenization, and on-chain governance, the Gulf and similar regions are demonstrating how orbital capabilities can deliver both immediate operational value and long-term industrial and economic leverage, making space a foundational layer of national digital strategy.
Q: What are the strongest triggers driving investment into space ventures right now?
There are a few big triggers we are seeing today. First is the shift toward data-as-a-service, high-frequency Earth observation, persistent communications, and sensor fusion are turning what used to be one-off missions into recurring revenue streams for governments and enterprises. Second, declining launch and platform costs are a game-changer: small-sat rideshares, higher flight cadence, and modular satellite platforms mean ventures can reach product-market fit faster and with lower upfront capital. Third, government anchor demand is huge; when defence, mapping, or emergency response agencies step in early, they de-risk the investment and give companies scaling visibility. And finally, sovereign capital and industrial policy are increasingly strategic drivers, with nations investing not just for returns but for jobs, data sovereignty, and long-term industrial capability. Layered on top, enabling infrastructure and standards, cloud-native ground systems, software-defined satellites, and clearer regulatory pathways make the whole ecosystem investable.
Taken together, these factors are driving the global space economy toward over $1 trillion by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors for private capital, public policy, and cross-border partnerships.
Q: What does a bankable project look like today for private investors? Who is the anchor customer? How should risk, liability, and insurance be structured?
A bankable project is one where the revenue is predictable, the margins are defensible, and there is a credible path to exit. Investors (like in any other sector) are looking for recurring, contractable revenue, such as tasking contracts, data subscriptions, mission services, or hosted payload slots backed by technical de-risking, such as flight heritage or short demonstration missions. Strong commercial routes to market matter too, whether that’s government MOUs, integration with analytics platforms, or strategic partnerships. Financial discipline and staged funding tied to milestones are key.
In terms of anchor customers, governments often play that role, such as defence agencies, civil authorities, or national space agencies, because they provide early revenue and credibility. We also see large infrastructure and energy firms, as well as airlines and hyperscalers, buying imagery or communications capacity. Essentially, government or sovereign customers de-risk the early stage, which then attracts private capital.
We can think about risk in layers. At the project level, manufacturers and operators typically carry workmanship and launch insurance. At the mission level, in-orbit operational risk is covered for the life of the asset, including third-party liability. Then, contractually, you need clear indemnities and performance SLAs with customers, especially around spectrum, export control, and cybersecurity. For strategic national assets, partial sovereign guarantees or regional pooled risk facilities can dramatically lower capital costs for early missions.
The rapid expansion of commercial space activities is creating a major opportunity for the insurance sector. As satellites, reusable launch systems, and in-orbit services multiply, new coverage areas are emerging across launch, data, and liability risks. Insurers can play a pivotal role in enabling investment confidence and operational continuity, while addressing emerging challenges such as space debris, cybersecurity, and climate-linked data systems. Ultimately, insurance stands to become a cornerstone of a secure, sustainable, and investable space economy.
Q: In a multipolar capital world, which regions are taking the most proactive stance on space investment, and where do you see meaningful cross-bloc collaboration?
We see real momentum from the US - both venture and defence markets; Europe with industrial-policy-backed investment, China and India with state-led scale, and the Gulf with sovereign capital and rapid procurement appetite. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is particularly proactive: they have forged strong international collaborations to get its national space programs off the ground. Partners from South Korea, France, the US, and other nations were instrumental in providing technical expertise, mission support, and training to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the UAE Space Agency during the early development of the country’s national space initiatives.
The UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) also create structured pathways for cross-bloc collaboration, lowering regulatory friction for joint projects and investment. Cross-bloc collaboration tends to be most productive where commercial incentives align - in commercial data markets, co-invested infrastructure like launch and ground stations, and standards around spectrum or debris mitigation. Bilateral industrial MoUs and public-private partnerships that clearly separate strategic control from commercial provision are often the most pragmatic way to cooperate, and the UAE’s CEPA frameworks are helping pave the way for closer cross-bloc space collaboration.
Q: How do you read the Gulf today: where is the GCC strong, and where are the gaps for investors and operators?
Among the fastest-growing space sectors in terms of budget and expenditure can be found in the Gulf. Here, nations are building ambitious space programs - particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia - investing billions of dollars in satellites, advanced space technologies, and critical infrastructure in one of the most geopolitically consequential regions in the world. What makes the Gulf unique is its crossroads between continents and markets; it’s the most cosmopolitan region I have ever lived in! The geography is highly strategic for equatorial and hemispheric coverage, and proximity to Africa, Asia, and Central and Eastern European, Middle East markets, with 80% of the world’s population within an eight-hour flight, making it incredibly attractive. Capital meets political will here: the region can stand up supply chains, manufacturing, and supporting infrastructure rapidly, while also having the means to export to global markets.
Investors can benefit from the region’s strong financial, legal, and arbitration frameworks, such as ADGM, BFH, DIFC, and KAFD, combined with reliable local insurance capacity and visibility into upcoming projects. This creates the confidence needed for long-term investment. Technical ecosystems are still maturing, and a clear strategic roadmap for space is in some cases still in progress across the Gulf, which can make securing anchor customers and funding more challenging. Legal and regulatory harmonisation across the GCC is limited, and uncertainties remain around spectrum allocation, O&M, and export control alignment.
The Gulf is ideal for blended finance, combining sovereign anchor capital with private upside, and for running fast pilot projects. But capturing long-term value requires deliberate capability-building: training, supplier development, and R&D-to-commercialisation partnerships.
Q: As space reshapes geopolitics and economics, what concrete steps can economies take to turn space spending into near-term security gains and long-term industrial edge?
In the near term, governments should prioritise dual-use services that deliver immediate security value, for example, persistent ISR, maritime domain awareness, or resilient communications. Procuring these initially from commercial providers allows services to scale while helping to meet local requirements. Close collaboration with providers to design and execute pilot projects is where we are seeing strong foundations being formed. Demonstrators should be integrated into both defence and civil operations from the outset, as we are seeing with the UAE’s national space champion Space42 and ICEYE’s partnership, as well as FADA’s upcoming Sirb SAR constellation in the UAE.
Looking further ahead, long-term advantage comes from building domestic capabilities and laying the foundation for sovereign systems. This includes investing in workforce pipelines, insisting on local content in procurement, and seeding industrial corridors spanning propulsion, structures and composites, avionics, payloads, software, ground systems, and manufacturing infrastructure, with grants or concessional capital. For emerging space nations like the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, procurement should be explicitly tied to technology and knowledge transfer, with measurable KPIs to ensure tangible local value creation.
This is where we (AzurX) add real impact: advising commercial space enterprises, governments, and sovereign funds on structuring blended finance, anchoring localisation, supporting early procurement with private co-investment, and facilitating partnerships for high-technology access and deployment. By connecting local stakeholders with global technical and industrial partners, AzurX ensures that space spending supports the development of sovereign systems, delivering immediate operational capability and building a sustainable industrial base for the future.
Q: What governance and security frameworks would keep access to orbit safe, open, and investable? And how can the GCC earn a meaningful seat at the rule-making table on spectrum, debris, and cyber?
Access to orbit will remain investable only if there are clear, enforceable, and internationally recognised rules for safety, liability, and operations, including orbital traffic management, debris mitigation standards, spectrum allocation, and cybersecurity protocols. The GCC is already taking meaningful steps in this direction. For example, Saudi Arabia hosts an annual Space Debris Conference in Riyadh, bringing together international experts and stakeholders to discuss responsible orbital behaviour and policy frameworks. Organized with the Saudi Space Agency and supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the event highlights the Kingdom’s leadership in promoting sustainable space operations and global cooperation. The UAE Space Agency addresses space debris and space situational awareness through its National Space Debris Monitoring and Mitigation Program, a network of observatories, and international collaborations. Dubai’s DIFC Courts of Space initiative is pioneering a legal framework for dispute resolution in space-related commercial activities, while Bahrain is actively engaging with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency responsible for global spectrum allocation and satellite coordination, to shape spectrum rules and promote international cooperation.
By actively engaging in multilateral bodies, leading regional conferences and initiatives, and strengthening domestic frameworks, the GCC can build credibility and influence. This demonstrates to international investors and partners that the region is taking proactive steps, aligned with global norms, to make the space domain safer, more transparent, and more investable.
Q: What should data sovereignty look like end-to-end (tasking, downlink, storage, processing, and cross-border distribution), and which elements must remain under local control?
Data sovereignty should be approached through a risk-tiered framework. Critical control points, such as tasking authorizations for national security imagery, initial downlink of regulated data, custody of sensitive raw feeds, and accident or incident logs, must remain within national jurisdiction to ensure trust and security. Non-sensitive processing, including aggregated analytics, commercial workflows, and AI-enabled insights, can be conducted in the cloud or cross-border under robust contractual and technical safeguards. The principle is clear: keep the control plane local, allow the data plane to be hybrid, supported by strong SLAs, encryption, and independently audited transfer frameworks.
For example, when it comes to Earth Observation (EO), this approach ensures that imagery for defense, environmental monitoring, disaster response, or infrastructure planning remains under sovereign control while enabling broader analytical applications, commercial services, and climate monitoring to scale internationally. For LEO constellations, it allows nations to manage tasking, telemetry, and sensitive payloads locally, while supporting high-throughput communications, data aggregation, and cross-border cloud processing to optimize global coverage and efficiency.
By applying this model, space-faring nations can protect critical national intelligence and strategic assets while unlocking commercial innovation, international collaboration, and investment. Satellites and sensors thus become engines of insight, industrial growth, and regional leadership, making the space data ecosystem both secure and scalable across EO and LEO operations.
Q: How would you design a partnership architecture between governments, sovereign funds, and private firms so the region can move fast now while building durable sovereign capacity?
From AzurX’s perspective, the fastest way for the Gulf to establish a resilient and investable space ecosystem is through partnerships that combine rapid execution with long-term sovereign impact. Governments and sovereign funds should provide early-stage capital to kickstart rapid demonstrators and pilot programs, while multi-year contracts give operators the stability needed to scale operations and attract talent. Private investors are then brought in once initial milestones are achieved, aligned through equity participation, revenue-sharing, and co-investment structures that incentivize both performance and long-term growth.
Every partnership we design goes beyond funding. We focus on transferring technical expertise, developing local talent pipelines, and establishing shared industrial and operational infrastructure. This ensures the region not only moves quickly to capture near-term opportunities but also builds durable sovereign capabilities, creating a foundation for decades of innovation, economic value, and strategic autonomy in space. AzurX plays a central role as the connector, linking regional stakeholders with global technical and industrial partners, ensuring that every dollar of space investment delivers both immediate operational impact and sustainable industrial growth.
Q: If you would like to wear your imaginative hat, we would like you to explore some more of the concepts below.
These ideas collectively outline a practical architecture for a space ecosystem that balances sovereignty, innovation, and commercial opportunity. They offer a blueprint for how we could operate both on Earth and in orbit, unlocking pathways to a thriving, investable space economy.
Space SEZ / Regulatory Sandbox – In the UAE, space economic zones are emerging across the seven emirates to distribute the industry’s economic impact, clustering specific activities and subsectors based on location. A one-stop virtual zone for satellite operations, Earth observation services, launch testing, and orbital station support could fast-track approvals, spectrum allocation, safety permits, and export controls, reducing friction for operators while enabling cross-emirate and cross-bloc alignment with partner organizations and allied nations. This applies both on Earth and in space: the space economy will require economic zones and regulatory sandboxes, not just terrestrial ones. The UAE’s existing regulatory sandbox (which is sector agnostic) already serves as a hub for rapid demonstrators and commercial pilots, while safeguarding strategic interests. In orbit, similar principles could apply: orbital platforms could host SEZs and regulatory sandboxes to accelerate the growth of the space economy while protecting national and commercial priorities.
Alternative Residency & Orbital Resident Card – In my work on space stations and designing mixed-use business parks and new markets in orbit, we have been exploring the idea of an alternative residency and “Orbital Resident Card.” This concept extends the notion of digital citizenship into the orbital environment itself. A digital state in space could become a hub for founders, entrepreneurs, operators, and investors, offering a form of digital residence on purpose-built space platforms or “orbital nations” connected to cross-bloc allied platforms in orbit or on Earth. Residency could be linked to sponsoring operators or states, supporting both short-term missions and long-term programs, and enabling a flexible, investable pathway for talent and enterprise in the orbital economy. Back on Earth, residents could gain access to know-how, labs, training, orbital station modules, and expedited clearances through Earth-based programs, encouraging clusters of space-tourism operators, researchers, scientists, and private astronauts while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Citizenship in a Spatial Body / Network State – Members could co-fund missions, co-manage shared orbital assets, or operate orbital platforms, creating a digital-state-like governance structure in space. Open calls, small bounties, and standardized protocols enable startups, station projects, and tourism initiatives to scale efficiently, while agreements with sponsoring states or allied blocs provide legal clarity and enforceable rights. Citizenship could also confer access to shared resources, voting on operational decisions, and revenue or tokenized ownership of outputs, aligning incentives across participants. By combining collaborative governance, programmable rules, and transparent asset management, this approach creates a flexible, investable, and resilient framework for orbital activity that complements sovereign oversight without replacing it.
Domicile & Rulebook in Space – Companies could register on Earth but operate under a clear, pre-agreed legal framework for orbital station activities, for instance, specifying court jurisdiction, safety standards, insurance requirements, and commercial rights. This approach makes complex operations from orbital hotels and research labs to logistics hubs and manufacturing platforms, or even space resource mining, legally and financially tractable, while giving investors and insurers the certainty needed to support growth. By codifying rules upfront, it also enables cross-border collaboration, standardizes operational protocols, and reduces friction for new entrants, helping to build a resilient and scalable orbital economy.
Travel & Work Credentials – Imagine a digital-state visa for space: a single credential that bundles visa, access, crew license, medical clearance, and insurance. Mutual recognition across jurisdictions and orbital platforms would allow tourists, researchers, and crew to move seamlessly between Earth and orbit, supporting orbital tourism, scientific missions, and commercial operations. Beyond logistics, this digital credential becomes a gateway to participation in the orbital economy, enabling a mobile, legally recognized workforce and creating a foundation for investable, cross-border space ventures. Together, these concepts create a layered, scalable orbital ecosystem: sovereign oversight secures critical operations, streamlined pathways attract top talent and investment, and infrastructure supports space stations, orbital tourism, and the broader space economy, positioning the Gulf as a potential hub for next-generation space activity if adopted. Alternatively, market-driven models could emulate these principles using network-state frameworks, DAOs, tokenization, and on-chain governance, enabling decentralized coordination of orbital projects, shared ownership of assets, and programmable operational rules. Exploring these intersections between sovereign authority, private enterprise, and decentralized architectures could unlock both new governance models and the economics of space, creating scalable, investable pathways for orbital activity.
About Anna Hazlett, Founder & Principal of AzurX | AzurX Space Ventures
AzurX is a leading UAE-based advisory and venture firm focused on scaling space and space-enabled technology companies. AzurX works at the intersection of strategy, investment, and innovation, supporting governments, sovereign funds, and private firms in building sustainable, high-impact space ecosystems. Anna serves on the Fund Advisory & Decision Committee of the AED 2 billion Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF), mentors Saudi Arabia’s CST Space Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, is a board observer for Space Intelligence, and sits on the Global Space Awards Steering Committee.
www.azurx.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/azurx
As Multipolitan curates its fourth flagship publication, The Digital State Project, it highlights how nations are redefining sovereignty, governance, and industrial strategy in the digital age. In this context, orbital infrastructure is no longer a niche asset; it is now a core component of a nation’s digital stack, underpinning communications, Earth observation, AI-driven analytics, and space-enabled services that are critical for both security and economic growth.
From a space-sector perspective, the Gulf is emerging as a proving ground for these principles. Sovereign capital, strategic procurement, and regulatory innovation are combining to create investable, high-impact space ventures. Recurring revenue from tasking contracts, data subscriptions, hosted payload slots, and mission services, coupled with declining launch costs and modular satellite platforms, is transforming one-off projects into predictable, bankable operations. Government anchors, industrial partnerships, and blended finance mechanisms further de-risk investment, while initiatives like Space SEZs, orbital residency programs, and networked governance models point to a future where space stations, orbital tourism, and the broader orbital economy are integral to a nation’s digital infrastructure, though in orbit, different rules may apply, and the market itself can experiment, innovate, and coordinate activity even before formal nation-state frameworks are fully defined.
Taken together, these trends suggest that investing in space is now inseparable from investing in the digital state itself. Whether through sovereign-led projects or market-driven, decentralized frameworks including DAOs, tokenization, and on-chain governance, the Gulf and similar regions are demonstrating how orbital capabilities can deliver both immediate operational value and long-term industrial and economic leverage, making space a foundational layer of national digital strategy.
Q: What are the strongest triggers driving investment into space ventures right now?
There are a few big triggers we are seeing today. First is the shift toward data-as-a-service, high-frequency Earth observation, persistent communications, and sensor fusion are turning what used to be one-off missions into recurring revenue streams for governments and enterprises. Second, declining launch and platform costs are a game-changer: small-sat rideshares, higher flight cadence, and modular satellite platforms mean ventures can reach product-market fit faster and with lower upfront capital. Third, government anchor demand is huge; when defence, mapping, or emergency response agencies step in early, they de-risk the investment and give companies scaling visibility. And finally, sovereign capital and industrial policy are increasingly strategic drivers, with nations investing not just for returns but for jobs, data sovereignty, and long-term industrial capability. Layered on top, enabling infrastructure and standards, cloud-native ground systems, software-defined satellites, and clearer regulatory pathways make the whole ecosystem investable.
Taken together, these factors are driving the global space economy toward over $1 trillion by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors for private capital, public policy, and cross-border partnerships.
Q: What does a bankable project look like today for private investors? Who is the anchor customer? How should risk, liability, and insurance be structured?
A bankable project is one where the revenue is predictable, the margins are defensible, and there is a credible path to exit. Investors (like in any other sector) are looking for recurring, contractable revenue, such as tasking contracts, data subscriptions, mission services, or hosted payload slots backed by technical de-risking, such as flight heritage or short demonstration missions. Strong commercial routes to market matter too, whether that’s government MOUs, integration with analytics platforms, or strategic partnerships. Financial discipline and staged funding tied to milestones are key.
In terms of anchor customers, governments often play that role, such as defence agencies, civil authorities, or national space agencies, because they provide early revenue and credibility. We also see large infrastructure and energy firms, as well as airlines and hyperscalers, buying imagery or communications capacity. Essentially, government or sovereign customers de-risk the early stage, which then attracts private capital.
We can think about risk in layers. At the project level, manufacturers and operators typically carry workmanship and launch insurance. At the mission level, in-orbit operational risk is covered for the life of the asset, including third-party liability. Then, contractually, you need clear indemnities and performance SLAs with customers, especially around spectrum, export control, and cybersecurity. For strategic national assets, partial sovereign guarantees or regional pooled risk facilities can dramatically lower capital costs for early missions.
The rapid expansion of commercial space activities is creating a major opportunity for the insurance sector. As satellites, reusable launch systems, and in-orbit services multiply, new coverage areas are emerging across launch, data, and liability risks. Insurers can play a pivotal role in enabling investment confidence and operational continuity, while addressing emerging challenges such as space debris, cybersecurity, and climate-linked data systems. Ultimately, insurance stands to become a cornerstone of a secure, sustainable, and investable space economy.
Q: In a multipolar capital world, which regions are taking the most proactive stance on space investment, and where do you see meaningful cross-bloc collaboration?
We see real momentum from the US - both venture and defence markets; Europe with industrial-policy-backed investment, China and India with state-led scale, and the Gulf with sovereign capital and rapid procurement appetite. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is particularly proactive: they have forged strong international collaborations to get its national space programs off the ground. Partners from South Korea, France, the US, and other nations were instrumental in providing technical expertise, mission support, and training to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and the UAE Space Agency during the early development of the country’s national space initiatives.
The UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) also create structured pathways for cross-bloc collaboration, lowering regulatory friction for joint projects and investment. Cross-bloc collaboration tends to be most productive where commercial incentives align - in commercial data markets, co-invested infrastructure like launch and ground stations, and standards around spectrum or debris mitigation. Bilateral industrial MoUs and public-private partnerships that clearly separate strategic control from commercial provision are often the most pragmatic way to cooperate, and the UAE’s CEPA frameworks are helping pave the way for closer cross-bloc space collaboration.
Q: How do you read the Gulf today: where is the GCC strong, and where are the gaps for investors and operators?
Among the fastest-growing space sectors in terms of budget and expenditure can be found in the Gulf. Here, nations are building ambitious space programs - particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia - investing billions of dollars in satellites, advanced space technologies, and critical infrastructure in one of the most geopolitically consequential regions in the world. What makes the Gulf unique is its crossroads between continents and markets; it’s the most cosmopolitan region I have ever lived in! The geography is highly strategic for equatorial and hemispheric coverage, and proximity to Africa, Asia, and Central and Eastern European, Middle East markets, with 80% of the world’s population within an eight-hour flight, making it incredibly attractive. Capital meets political will here: the region can stand up supply chains, manufacturing, and supporting infrastructure rapidly, while also having the means to export to global markets.
Investors can benefit from the region’s strong financial, legal, and arbitration frameworks, such as ADGM, BFH, DIFC, and KAFD, combined with reliable local insurance capacity and visibility into upcoming projects. This creates the confidence needed for long-term investment. Technical ecosystems are still maturing, and a clear strategic roadmap for space is in some cases still in progress across the Gulf, which can make securing anchor customers and funding more challenging. Legal and regulatory harmonisation across the GCC is limited, and uncertainties remain around spectrum allocation, O&M, and export control alignment.
The Gulf is ideal for blended finance, combining sovereign anchor capital with private upside, and for running fast pilot projects. But capturing long-term value requires deliberate capability-building: training, supplier development, and R&D-to-commercialisation partnerships.
Q: As space reshapes geopolitics and economics, what concrete steps can economies take to turn space spending into near-term security gains and long-term industrial edge?
In the near term, governments should prioritise dual-use services that deliver immediate security value, for example, persistent ISR, maritime domain awareness, or resilient communications. Procuring these initially from commercial providers allows services to scale while helping to meet local requirements. Close collaboration with providers to design and execute pilot projects is where we are seeing strong foundations being formed. Demonstrators should be integrated into both defence and civil operations from the outset, as we are seeing with the UAE’s national space champion Space42 and ICEYE’s partnership, as well as FADA’s upcoming Sirb SAR constellation in the UAE.
Looking further ahead, long-term advantage comes from building domestic capabilities and laying the foundation for sovereign systems. This includes investing in workforce pipelines, insisting on local content in procurement, and seeding industrial corridors spanning propulsion, structures and composites, avionics, payloads, software, ground systems, and manufacturing infrastructure, with grants or concessional capital. For emerging space nations like the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, procurement should be explicitly tied to technology and knowledge transfer, with measurable KPIs to ensure tangible local value creation.
This is where we (AzurX) add real impact: advising commercial space enterprises, governments, and sovereign funds on structuring blended finance, anchoring localisation, supporting early procurement with private co-investment, and facilitating partnerships for high-technology access and deployment. By connecting local stakeholders with global technical and industrial partners, AzurX ensures that space spending supports the development of sovereign systems, delivering immediate operational capability and building a sustainable industrial base for the future.
Q: What governance and security frameworks would keep access to orbit safe, open, and investable? And how can the GCC earn a meaningful seat at the rule-making table on spectrum, debris, and cyber?
Access to orbit will remain investable only if there are clear, enforceable, and internationally recognised rules for safety, liability, and operations, including orbital traffic management, debris mitigation standards, spectrum allocation, and cybersecurity protocols. The GCC is already taking meaningful steps in this direction. For example, Saudi Arabia hosts an annual Space Debris Conference in Riyadh, bringing together international experts and stakeholders to discuss responsible orbital behaviour and policy frameworks. Organized with the Saudi Space Agency and supported by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the event highlights the Kingdom’s leadership in promoting sustainable space operations and global cooperation. The UAE Space Agency addresses space debris and space situational awareness through its National Space Debris Monitoring and Mitigation Program, a network of observatories, and international collaborations. Dubai’s DIFC Courts of Space initiative is pioneering a legal framework for dispute resolution in space-related commercial activities, while Bahrain is actively engaging with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency responsible for global spectrum allocation and satellite coordination, to shape spectrum rules and promote international cooperation.
By actively engaging in multilateral bodies, leading regional conferences and initiatives, and strengthening domestic frameworks, the GCC can build credibility and influence. This demonstrates to international investors and partners that the region is taking proactive steps, aligned with global norms, to make the space domain safer, more transparent, and more investable.
Q: What should data sovereignty look like end-to-end (tasking, downlink, storage, processing, and cross-border distribution), and which elements must remain under local control?
Data sovereignty should be approached through a risk-tiered framework. Critical control points, such as tasking authorizations for national security imagery, initial downlink of regulated data, custody of sensitive raw feeds, and accident or incident logs, must remain within national jurisdiction to ensure trust and security. Non-sensitive processing, including aggregated analytics, commercial workflows, and AI-enabled insights, can be conducted in the cloud or cross-border under robust contractual and technical safeguards. The principle is clear: keep the control plane local, allow the data plane to be hybrid, supported by strong SLAs, encryption, and independently audited transfer frameworks.
For example, when it comes to Earth Observation (EO), this approach ensures that imagery for defense, environmental monitoring, disaster response, or infrastructure planning remains under sovereign control while enabling broader analytical applications, commercial services, and climate monitoring to scale internationally. For LEO constellations, it allows nations to manage tasking, telemetry, and sensitive payloads locally, while supporting high-throughput communications, data aggregation, and cross-border cloud processing to optimize global coverage and efficiency.
By applying this model, space-faring nations can protect critical national intelligence and strategic assets while unlocking commercial innovation, international collaboration, and investment. Satellites and sensors thus become engines of insight, industrial growth, and regional leadership, making the space data ecosystem both secure and scalable across EO and LEO operations.
Q: How would you design a partnership architecture between governments, sovereign funds, and private firms so the region can move fast now while building durable sovereign capacity?
From AzurX’s perspective, the fastest way for the Gulf to establish a resilient and investable space ecosystem is through partnerships that combine rapid execution with long-term sovereign impact. Governments and sovereign funds should provide early-stage capital to kickstart rapid demonstrators and pilot programs, while multi-year contracts give operators the stability needed to scale operations and attract talent. Private investors are then brought in once initial milestones are achieved, aligned through equity participation, revenue-sharing, and co-investment structures that incentivize both performance and long-term growth.
Every partnership we design goes beyond funding. We focus on transferring technical expertise, developing local talent pipelines, and establishing shared industrial and operational infrastructure. This ensures the region not only moves quickly to capture near-term opportunities but also builds durable sovereign capabilities, creating a foundation for decades of innovation, economic value, and strategic autonomy in space. AzurX plays a central role as the connector, linking regional stakeholders with global technical and industrial partners, ensuring that every dollar of space investment delivers both immediate operational impact and sustainable industrial growth.
Q: If you would like to wear your imaginative hat, we would like you to explore some more of the concepts below.
These ideas collectively outline a practical architecture for a space ecosystem that balances sovereignty, innovation, and commercial opportunity. They offer a blueprint for how we could operate both on Earth and in orbit, unlocking pathways to a thriving, investable space economy.
Space SEZ / Regulatory Sandbox – In the UAE, space economic zones are emerging across the seven emirates to distribute the industry’s economic impact, clustering specific activities and subsectors based on location. A one-stop virtual zone for satellite operations, Earth observation services, launch testing, and orbital station support could fast-track approvals, spectrum allocation, safety permits, and export controls, reducing friction for operators while enabling cross-emirate and cross-bloc alignment with partner organizations and allied nations. This applies both on Earth and in space: the space economy will require economic zones and regulatory sandboxes, not just terrestrial ones. The UAE’s existing regulatory sandbox (which is sector agnostic) already serves as a hub for rapid demonstrators and commercial pilots, while safeguarding strategic interests. In orbit, similar principles could apply: orbital platforms could host SEZs and regulatory sandboxes to accelerate the growth of the space economy while protecting national and commercial priorities.
Alternative Residency & Orbital Resident Card – In my work on space stations and designing mixed-use business parks and new markets in orbit, we have been exploring the idea of an alternative residency and “Orbital Resident Card.” This concept extends the notion of digital citizenship into the orbital environment itself. A digital state in space could become a hub for founders, entrepreneurs, operators, and investors, offering a form of digital residence on purpose-built space platforms or “orbital nations” connected to cross-bloc allied platforms in orbit or on Earth. Residency could be linked to sponsoring operators or states, supporting both short-term missions and long-term programs, and enabling a flexible, investable pathway for talent and enterprise in the orbital economy. Back on Earth, residents could gain access to know-how, labs, training, orbital station modules, and expedited clearances through Earth-based programs, encouraging clusters of space-tourism operators, researchers, scientists, and private astronauts while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Citizenship in a Spatial Body / Network State – Members could co-fund missions, co-manage shared orbital assets, or operate orbital platforms, creating a digital-state-like governance structure in space. Open calls, small bounties, and standardized protocols enable startups, station projects, and tourism initiatives to scale efficiently, while agreements with sponsoring states or allied blocs provide legal clarity and enforceable rights. Citizenship could also confer access to shared resources, voting on operational decisions, and revenue or tokenized ownership of outputs, aligning incentives across participants. By combining collaborative governance, programmable rules, and transparent asset management, this approach creates a flexible, investable, and resilient framework for orbital activity that complements sovereign oversight without replacing it.
Domicile & Rulebook in Space – Companies could register on Earth but operate under a clear, pre-agreed legal framework for orbital station activities, for instance, specifying court jurisdiction, safety standards, insurance requirements, and commercial rights. This approach makes complex operations from orbital hotels and research labs to logistics hubs and manufacturing platforms, or even space resource mining, legally and financially tractable, while giving investors and insurers the certainty needed to support growth. By codifying rules upfront, it also enables cross-border collaboration, standardizes operational protocols, and reduces friction for new entrants, helping to build a resilient and scalable orbital economy.
Travel & Work Credentials – Imagine a digital-state visa for space: a single credential that bundles visa, access, crew license, medical clearance, and insurance. Mutual recognition across jurisdictions and orbital platforms would allow tourists, researchers, and crew to move seamlessly between Earth and orbit, supporting orbital tourism, scientific missions, and commercial operations. Beyond logistics, this digital credential becomes a gateway to participation in the orbital economy, enabling a mobile, legally recognized workforce and creating a foundation for investable, cross-border space ventures. Together, these concepts create a layered, scalable orbital ecosystem: sovereign oversight secures critical operations, streamlined pathways attract top talent and investment, and infrastructure supports space stations, orbital tourism, and the broader space economy, positioning the Gulf as a potential hub for next-generation space activity if adopted. Alternatively, market-driven models could emulate these principles using network-state frameworks, DAOs, tokenization, and on-chain governance, enabling decentralized coordination of orbital projects, shared ownership of assets, and programmable operational rules. Exploring these intersections between sovereign authority, private enterprise, and decentralized architectures could unlock both new governance models and the economics of space, creating scalable, investable pathways for orbital activity.
About Anna Hazlett, Founder & Principal of AzurX | AzurX Space Ventures
AzurX is a leading UAE-based advisory and venture firm focused on scaling space and space-enabled technology companies. AzurX works at the intersection of strategy, investment, and innovation, supporting governments, sovereign funds, and private firms in building sustainable, high-impact space ecosystems. Anna serves on the Fund Advisory & Decision Committee of the AED 2 billion Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF), mentors Saudi Arabia’s CST Space Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, is a board observer for Space Intelligence, and sits on the Global Space Awards Steering Committee.
www.azurx.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/azurx
Contributors
Anna Hazlett leads AzurX, a UAE-based advisory and venture firm helping space and space-enabled tech companies scale. She also serves on the AED 2B Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund’s Advisory & Decision Committee, mentors Saudi Arabia’s CST Space Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, and sits on the Global Space Awards Steering Committee.
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