Starlink is now operational in the UAE, with Elon Musk confirming the launch on X on Thursday, September 3. The UAE joins more than 150 countries and territories where the satellite internet service is active.
The launch follows a 10-year General Space Services License issued by the UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) on August 28, formally authorising Starlink to operate a public satellite communications network and provide broadband internet across the country. Pre-orders opened shortly after the licence was granted, with demand generating a waiting list and the company accepting deposits through its website.
Residential customers will pay AED300 per month for unlimited data, with a 30-day trial included. The required hardware, a Router 3 with Wi-Fi 6, starts at AED1,465. An AED300 deposit is charged at checkout and later deducted from the cost of the kit. Starlink says the service can deliver speeds of 400+ Mbps.
The TDRA licence extends beyond home internet. It covers connectivity for businesses, government entities, maritime vessels and aircraft, giving Starlink a broad operational remit in the market from day one.
Starlink runs on a network of satellites in low Earth orbit, positioning it as an alternative to conventional fixed-line and mobile broadband. The company is currently warning customers of shipping delays, attributing them to high demand and regional logistics challenges, and says delivery timelines will be confirmed once available.
