How Serco Is Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Space Ambitions: In Conversation with Head of Space Amar Vora
Published: 7 Oct 2025
During World Space Week, we sat down with Serco Middle East’s Head of Space Amar Vora to explore Saudi Arabia’s expanding space ambitions and Serco’s role in driving them forward.
What areas of Saudi Arabia’s space ecosystem—such as ground station services, satellite operations, or training—do you see as most viable for private-sector support?
Saudi Arabia’s space industry is still in its early stages, which creates an opportunity for the private sector - with decades of international experience working alongside NASA, the European Space Agency, and others - to play a vital role in supporting the entire ecosystem. For example, Saudi has an excellent geographic position, making it the ideal strategic hub for ground station services supporting LEO, MEO, and GEO satellites. Additionally, we’ve also seen growing demand for satellite operations and downstream services, including mission planning, data management, and value-added analytics for both government and commercial users.
Saudi is also hugely focused on keeping sustainability front and centre of their Vision 2030 goals and so there’s huge potential in space-enabled applications that support climate monitoring, environmental management, and urban planning, and we’re already seeing this come to life through platforms like the recently launched Earth Observation Marketplace, operated by NSG’s UP42 division. Finally, training and capacity-building programmes will be essential to develop a strong Saudi talent pipeline in operations, engineering, and downstream services. At Serco, we’ve already begun recruiting local graduates into our Space division and it is important that the private sector is playing their part in equipping local teams with the skills needed to operate and innovate in this fast-evolving sector.
Is Serco currently working with any government entities in Saudi Arabia to build space-related infrastructure or services?
We’re having active conversations with government and semi-government stakeholders about how Serco can support the Kingdom’s growing ambitions in space. This includes exploring partnerships in satellite and ground operations, as well as data services that will become increasingly important as Saudi Arabia accelerates its Vision 2030 plans. A big focus for us is talent and knowledge transfer, building on the model we’ve developed through our Space Academy in the Middle East. It’s designed to equip local workforces with the skills needed to manage operations and downstream applications, and we see a natural opportunity to bring this expertise into Saudi Arabia as its ecosystem develops.
From a business perspective, what makes the Kingdom an attractive market for global space service providers like Serco?
Saudi Arabia’s ambition is clear. Vision 2030 has placed space firmly on the agenda, with a target of building a $31.6 billion space economy by 2035. That commitment is backed by significant government investment and robust institutional frameworks, led by the Saudi Space Agency and commercialised through the Neo Space Group. With our experience supporting satellite operations, ground services, and downstream applications elsewhere in the region, Serco is well-placed to help the Kingdom translate its ambitions into operational reality. What makes the Kingdom particularly attractive is the way space innovation connects to its other priority sectors, from energy and aviation to maritime, defence, and urban development. All these industries increasingly rely on space-enabled services, which creates opportunities for organisations like ours to support Saudi Arabia in becoming a regional hub for aerospace and space-tech innovation.
How do you view the potential entry of global giants like SpaceX into the Saudi ecosystem?
The arrival of companies like SpaceX would be a hugely positive signal for the Kingdom’s space ambitions, bringing global visibility and acting as a catalyst for further investment as well as bringing new talent and technology into the country. For us, this isn’t about competition but more about collaboration. SpaceX’s capabilities in areas such as launch services and satellite networks could complement Serco’s operational expertise, local service integration, and capacity-building initiatives. Moves like this also reinforce Saudi Arabia’s positioning as a serious player in the global space-tech ecosystem, which benefits everyone operating in this sector.
What gaps or challenges does Serco see in the Kingdom’s current space capabilities, and how could they be addressed through public-private partnerships?
Every emerging space economy faces challenges, and Saudi Arabia is no exception. There is currently limited infrastructure for ground stations and satellite services, which represents a clear opportunity for public-private partnerships to bring in global expertise while developing local capability. Another area is talent - a highly skilled workforce will be essential for sustaining long-term growth. That’s why structured training and knowledge-transfer programmes, like those we’ve delivered elsewhere in the region, are so important. Finally, there’s significant potential to better integrate space-derived data into priority sectors such as energy, climate, and smart cities. Platforms like the Earth Observation Marketplace are already helping connect providers with end-users, and expanding those kinds of partnerships will be key to unlocking Saudi Arabia’s ambitions.
What do you think the approval of Starlink for maritime and aviation use signals about the Kingdom’s broader approach to commercial space services?
It shows that Saudi Arabia is taking a pragmatic and opportunity-driven approach to building its space economy. Approving Starlink for maritime and aviation use signals a willingness to adopt the best global solutions while continuing to build local capability. It also highlights how central connectivity and downstream applications are to the Kingdom’s wider digital transformation plans under Vision 2030. By opening the door to commercial partnerships, Saudi Arabia is accelerating its ability to deliver services that will benefit sectors from aviation to logistics, while positioning itself as a leader in the regional space-tech ecosystem.
What do you believe needs to happen next for the Kingdom’s space ambitions to translate into tangible global partnerships and economic returns?
The foundations are already being laid, but the next step is to scale the ecosystem. Strengthening public-private partnership frameworks will be critical to attracting long-term foreign investment and expertise. At the same time, there’s a real opportunity to nurture local innovation by expanding testbeds (controlled environments where new technologies can be trialled) alongside incubators and accelerators that support early-stage space startups with funding, mentorship, and market access. Platforms like the Earth Observation Marketplace also have the potential to become a core part of the value chain, turning raw satellite data into actionable insights across sectors such as energy, agriculture, and urban development. Finally, developing a skilled workforce through structured training and education programmes will ensure that Saudi Arabia not only participates in the global space economy but helps shape it.
In your view, how might SpaceX’s presence—if expanded beyond Starlink—reshape the trajectory of Saudi Arabia’s space sector?
If SpaceX were to deepen its presence in Saudi Arabia, it could significantly accelerate the Kingdom’s ambitions. It would likely attract a wider ecosystem of suppliers, startups, and investors, making Saudi Arabia a launchpad for aerospace innovation in the Middle East. It could also drive faster progress in areas like satellite manufacturing, launch services, and space-enabled applications. Importantly, moves like this would encourage the Kingdom to play an even stronger role in international space diplomacy and competitiveness. For Serco, it would open up new opportunities to partner on operational support, service integration, and local capacity-building as Saudi Arabia cements its position in the global space-tech landscape.