UAE space tourism: Dh257 million ticket price filters serious buyers from 100 yearly enquiries

The UAE receives around 100 inquiries a year from people interested in space travel, but only 15 to 18 per cent come from individuals who can genuinely afford the trip, according to Roman Chiporukha, founder of SpaceVIP. A seat on a private low Earth orbit flight costs about $70 million, equivalent to Dh257 million.

Chiporukha said that many inquiries are speculative, with potential customers going quiet once they learn the price. He noted that the UAE has made significant progress through its space agency over the past decade, but stressed the need for a domestic pipeline of talent.

The UAE is positioning itself as a serious contender in the emerging space tourism sector. Having sent astronauts to the International Space Station and built a respected national space programme, the country is now looking at commercial opportunities beyond Earth.

Globally, companies such as Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and SpaceX have made suborbital and orbital flights more accessible. Dubai and Abu Dhabi, known for their ambitious infrastructure and premium tourism, are exploring spaceport concepts and partnerships. As costs gradually decrease, analysts expect the market to grow, with the Gulf region well placed to benefit.

Enquiries from celebrities and sponsors

Chiporukha said that globally, enquiries come from ultra-wealthy individuals, celebrities seeking space “firsts” such as a concert or music video, and people looking for sponsors to fund their trip. He added that celebrity interest often stalls over who will pay.

Asked about international cooperation, Chiporukha said space should be a catalyst for collaboration. “Human beings are a collaborative species. We get things done when we work together,” he said.

Cost, safety and timelines

Chiporukha said he cannot predict when space travel will become affordable for the general public. He stressed that the industry needs to move beyond chemical combustion, as most of a rocket’s mass is fuel. “I would be making things up if I said it’ll happen in the next 10 years or the next 20 years,” he said, though he expects progress “sooner rather than later”.

Safety remains a concern, he acknowledged, with too few flights to provide insurers with enough data. “It might cost you more to insure the trip to space than the actual trip to space,” he said. He added that a person is statistically more likely to die in a car crash than in a rocket failure, and that SpaceVIP is “overly open” with clients about the risks.

On stratospheric balloon flights, which he sees as the lowest barrier to entry, Chiporukha said no properly pressurised vehicle yet exists for the edge of space.

Education initiative and hackathon

SpaceVIP, headquartered in New York, opened an office in Dubai Media City in 2023. Chiporukha is currently in the UAE to meet potential clients and universities. He plans to launch an education initiative through the Space Prize Foundation, an organisation he started alongside SpaceVIP to promote universal space literacy. The launch is scheduled for December 2026 or January 2027.

The programme will be fully funded by SpaceVIP. It includes a three-day hackathon for about 250 participants, followed by a contest judged by chief executives from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It will also feature an artificial intelligence component.

Winners will receive scholarships, with an incubation route for those who go on to start companies. Chiporukha said the company will bring its own educators and materials, and hosting universities will only need to provide a hall. “I’m not asking for money. I’m giving you the money,” he said, adding that the savings will go towards donating telescopes to schools rather than renting venues.

The foundation ran a similar initiative in Saudi Arabia, launched after Chiporukha attended the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh last year. The contest was originally meant to be held in Riyadh but was moved to Jeddah because of the geopolitical situation. He will present the awards virtually.