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Saudi Arabia Expands its Economic Capabilities to Space

A photo taken from the Riyadh Space Exhibition, which was held at the King Salman Science Park last month under the slogan “Man and Space”. (SPA)
A photo taken from the Riyadh Space Exhibition, which was held at the King Salman Science Park last month under the slogan “Man and Space”. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Expands its Economic Capabilities to Space

A photo taken from the Riyadh Space Exhibition, which was held at the King Salman Science Park last month under the slogan “Man and Space”. (SPA)
A photo taken from the Riyadh Space Exhibition, which was held at the King Salman Science Park last month under the slogan “Man and Space”. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s recent announcement that it was sending two Saudi astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) has kicked off talks about the Kingdom’s serious endeavor to benefit from the space economy as a giant sector, where global visions of sustainability and technology intersect.

The astronauts will make their trip during the second quarter of 2023, in a first-of-its-kind move for the Kingdom.

Last year, the Saudi government decided to establish the Supreme Space Council in view of the strategic importance of the space sector, which represents the main engine to stimulate innovation and inspire future generations, according to a statement of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CSTC).

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha said the efforts would focus on creating the space market and stimulating research and innovation, and then moving towards the stage of regulation and governance.

The authority will play a pivotal role in setting the adequate regulations, as well as coordinating and cooperating with space regulators at the global level and building relationships with industry stakeholders.

Capacity building

In September 2022, the Saudi Space Authority launched the Kingdom’s Astronaut Program, which aims to qualify experienced national cadres for long- and short-term space flights. The program also seeks to train Saudi astronauts to participate in scientific experiments, international research, and future space-related missions.

The program aims to take advantage of the promising opportunities offered by the space sector and its industries globally and to contribute to research to serve humanity in a number of priority areas, such as health, sustainability and space technology.

Last week, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that Saudi female and male astronauts Rayana Bernawi and Ali Al-Qarni will join the crew of the Axiom Mission 2 (or Ax-2), with the aim of building national capacities.

The space mission aims to empower capabilities of Saudi scientists in human spaceflight geared towards serving humanity and benefiting from the promising opportunities offered by the space industry.

SPA added that the journey would start from the United States to the ISS. The program includes two other astronauts Maryam Firdous and Ali Al-Ghamdi, who will be trained on all mission requirements, but not take part in the journey.

In 1985, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz was the first Arab astronaut to participate in a space flight, which also launched from the United States.

NASA announcement

NASA announced that Bernawi and Al-Qarni will take off “in the spring of 2023” from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, in the United States, on a private mission operated by Axiom Space.

The two Saudi astronauts will accompany Peggy Whitson and John Shoffner on the Ax-2 mission, a Crew Dragon flight set to launch no earlier than May 1, 2023, to the ISS.

Economic dimension

In previous remarks, Minister Alswaha emphasized the importance of the space sector as “the next trillion global economy”, saying that the establishment of Supreme Space Council was “an important step to stimulate innovation and inspire future generations for our beloved country.”

Observers have underscored the importance of the decision, which corresponds with the vision followed by Saudi Arabia in launching programs and projects that are compatible with its financial and human capabilities, to create complementary industries for this sector, and a specialized market in the world of space.

Space agreements

Saudi Arabia had earlier concluded many agreements and contracts, including the Artemis Accords with the NASA, to join the international coalition in the field of civil exploration and the use of the moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes.

Government attention

Alswaha said the fact that Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, was president of the Supreme Space Council was a clear message of the importance that the Kingdom places on the space sector.

The council will focus on three main axes: adopting policies and strategies for the sector’s programs, approving its annual plans and monitoring the implementation of its national strategy, and achieving compatibility with various sectors and national needs.

Saudi transformation

The decision to establish the Supreme Space Council came in line with the industrial and economic transformation in Saudi Arabia, based on the initial steps taken by the Saudi Space Authority since its establishment in 2018.

These moves have resulted in the conclusion of an agreement in mid-March with the British Space Agency for cooperation in the field of peaceful use of outer space, aimed at providing a framework for cooperation in space activities.

Saudi satellites

Between 2000 and 2019, the Kingdom launched 16 Saudi satellites into space under the supervision of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). The latest was the Saudi Communications Satellite (SGS1), which was launched on February 6, 2019, bearing the signature of Crown Prince Mohammed with the words, “Above the clouds.”

SGS1 works to serve the modern satellite communications sector, which includes broadband and secure military communications, as well as the provision of communications to semi-remote and stricken areas for use in various fields of sustainable development such as: applications (high-speed broadband communications, and secure communications for government agencies).

The satellite is operated and managed through advanced ground control stations in the Kingdom.

An international map

Dr. Faisal Al-Fadil, member of the Saudi Shura Council, said the decision to establish the Supreme Space Council is part of the moves taken by Saudi Arabia in all economic and social fields, which aim to place the Kingdom on the international map in science, economy and politics.

According to Al-Fadil, these three branches depend on two pillars: cadres and a clear strategy.

Twenty companies

The Saudi Space Authority is currently seeking to attract 20 emerging companies in the fields of space tourism, exploration, satellite communications and space photography.

The program will enable these companies to work and connect with world-class resources to enhance their chances of success, in partnership with Techstars, a global investment firm that provides access to capital, individual mentorship, a global network, and customized programming for early-stage entrepreneurs.

Space economy

According to Morgan Stanley’s 2018 report, the size of the space economy in the world is $360 billion. It is expected to reach $1.1 trillion in 2040 and $2.7 trillion by 2050.

The G20 countries account for the largest share, at about 92 percent.

The private sector

The private sector plays a pivotal role in the space industry. According to the latest statistics, the sector achieved huge revenues of $254 billion, through six main activities that included satellite communication services and applications by around 36 percent, chips and receivers for satellite navigation by 23 percent, as well as ground equipment and devices by 23 percent, and satellite manufacturing by 9 percent.

This is in addition to space applications and remote sensing, and services for launching vehicles and human space flights by about 5 percent for each activity.

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Business

Global Unemployment ‘Stable’ in 2026, but Decent Jobs Lacking

A Palestinian employee inspects sweet locally known as "al-Shatwi" (Winter) Crimbo sweets, as the Al-Arees factory gradually resumes operations after a hiatus caused by the Gaza war which led to shortages of raw materials used in their products, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on January 12, 2026, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
A Palestinian employee inspects sweet locally known as "al-Shatwi" (Winter) Crimbo sweets, as the Al-Arees factory gradually resumes operations after a hiatus caused by the Gaza war which led to shortages of raw materials used in their products, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on January 12, 2026, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
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Global Unemployment ‘Stable’ in 2026, but Decent Jobs Lacking

A Palestinian employee inspects sweet locally known as "al-Shatwi" (Winter) Crimbo sweets, as the Al-Arees factory gradually resumes operations after a hiatus caused by the Gaza war which led to shortages of raw materials used in their products, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on January 12, 2026, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)
A Palestinian employee inspects sweet locally known as "al-Shatwi" (Winter) Crimbo sweets, as the Al-Arees factory gradually resumes operations after a hiatus caused by the Gaza war which led to shortages of raw materials used in their products, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip on January 12, 2026, following a US-brokered truce that halted the two-year war. (AFP)

The global unemployment rate is expected to hold steady in 2026, the United Nations said Wednesday, but cautioned the labor market's seeming stability belies a dire shortage of decent jobs.

The UN's International Labor Organization said the global economy and labor market appeared to have weathered recent economic shocks better than expected.

But the ILO warned that efforts to improve global job quality had stagnated, leaving hundreds of millions of workers wallowing in poverty, even as trade uncertainty risked cutting into workers wages.

The global unemployment rate was estimated at 4.9 percent last year and the year before, and is now projected to remain at a similar level until 2027, a report from the UN labor agency said.

That amounts to 186 million people out of work this year, it said.

"Global labor markets look stable, but that stability is quite fragile," Caroline Fredrickson, head of the ILO's research department, told reporters, cautioning that the "apparent calm masks deeper and unresolved problems".

At a time when US President Donald Trump has slapped towering tariffs on friends and foes alike, the report cautioned that "disruptions caused by trade uncertainty, combined with ongoing long-term transformations in global trade, could significantly affect labor market outcomes".

Going forward, the ILO said its modelling suggested that a moderate increase in trade policy uncertainty "may reduce returns to labor and, as a consequence, real wages for both skilled and unskilled workers across all sectors", especially in Southeast Asia, Southern Asia and Europe.

The potential of trade to generate new employment opportunities was also being challenged by the ongoing disruptions, the report said, pointing out that 465 million jobs globally depended on foreign demand through exports of goods and services and related supply chains in 2024.

- Extreme poverty -

Another major concern highlighted by the ILO was the quality of jobs available.

"Resilient growth and stable unemployment figures should not distract us from the deeper reality: hundreds of millions of workers remain trapped in poverty, informality, and exclusion," ILO chief Gilbert Houngbo said in a statement.

Nearly 300 million workers continue to live in extreme poverty, earning less than $3 a day, Wednesday's report found.

At the same time, some 2.1 billion workers are expected to hold informal jobs this year, with limited access to social protection, labor rights and job security.

Young people remain particularly vulnerable, with unemployment among 15- to 24-year-olds projected to reach 12.4 percent for 2025, with around 260 million young people not engaged in education, employment or training, ILO said.

It warned that artificial intelligence and automation could exacerbate challenges, particularly for educated young people in wealthier countries seeking their first high-skill jobs.

"While the full impact of AI on youth employment remains uncertain, its potential magnitude warrants close monitoring," the report said.

The ILO also highlighted "entrenched gender inequalities", pointing out that women still account for just two-fifths of global employment.

"Stable labor markets are not necessarily healthy," Fredrickson said, stressing the growing need for "domestic policy choices to strengthen decent work outcomes".

"Without decisive action, today's stability risks giving way to deeper inequalities."

Business

China Had a Record $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus in 2025, as Exports Rose 6.6% in December

Women dressed in traditional Chinese-style attire cross a street in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
Women dressed in traditional Chinese-style attire cross a street in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
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China Had a Record $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus in 2025, as Exports Rose 6.6% in December

Women dressed in traditional Chinese-style attire cross a street in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)
Women dressed in traditional Chinese-style attire cross a street in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP)

China’s trade surplus surged to a record of almost $1.2 trillion in 2025, the government said Wednesday, as exports to other countries made up for slowing shipments to the United States.

China's exports rose 5.5% for the whole of last year to $3.77 trillion, customs data showed, while imports flatlined at $2.58 trillion. The 2024 trade surplus was over $992 billion.

In December, China’s exports climbed 6.6% from the year before in dollar terms, better than economists’ estimates and higher than November’s 5.9% year-on-year increase. Imports in December were up 5.7% year-on-year, compared to November’s 1.9%.

China’s trade surplus surpassed the $1 trillion mark for the first time in November, when the trade surplus reached $1.08 trillion in the first 11 months of last year.

Economists expect exports will continue to support China’s economy this year, despite trade friction and geopolitical tensions.

“We continue to expect exports to act as a big growth driver in 2026,” said Jacqueline Rong, chief China economist at BNP Paribas.

While China’s exports to the US have fallen sharply for most of last year since President Donald Trump returned to office and escalated his trade war with the world’s second-largest economy, that decline has been largely offset by shipments to other markets in South America, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe.

For the whole of 2025, China’s exports to the US fell 20%. In contrast, exports to Africa surged 26%. Those to Southeast Asian countries jumped 13%; to the European Union 8%, and to Latin America, 7%.

Strong global demand for computer chips and other devices and the materials needed to make them were among categories that supported China’s exports, analysts said. Car exports also grew last year.

China's strong exports have helped keep its economy growing at an annual rate close to its official target of about 5%. But that has triggered alarm in countries that fear a flood of cheap imports are damaging local industries.

China faces a “severe and complex” external trade environment in 2026, Wang Jun, vice minister of China’s customs administration, told reporters in Beijing. But he said China’s “foreign trade fundamentals remain solid.”

The head of the International Monetary Fund last month called for China to fix its economic imbalances and speed up its shift from reliance on exports by boosting domestic demand and investment.

A prolonged property downturn in China after the authorities cracked down on excessive borrowing, triggering defaults by many developers, is still weighing on consumer confidence and domestic demand.

China’s leaders have made increasing spending by consumers and businesses a focus of economic policy, but actions taken so far have had a limited impact. That included government trade-in subsidies over the past months that encouraged consumers to buy newer, more energy efficient items, such as home appliances and vehicles, and replace older models.

“We expect domestic demand growth to stay tepid,” said Rong of BNP Paribas. “In fact, the policy boost to domestic demand looks weaker than last year -- in particular the fiscal subsidy program for consumer goods.”

Gary Ng, a senior economist at French investment bank Natixis, forecasts that China’s exports will grow about 3% in 2026, less than the 5.5% growth in 2025. With slow import growth, he expects China's trade surplus to remain above $1 trillion this year.

Business

Saudi Arabia Signs Mineral Cooperation Deals with Chile, Canada, Brazil

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. (SPA)
The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Signs Mineral Cooperation Deals with Chile, Canada, Brazil

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. (SPA)
The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, signed on Tuesday three international memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on mineral resources cooperation with the Chile, Canada, and Brazil.

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the Ministerial Roundtable of ministers concerned with mining affairs, held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum (FMF), hosted by Riyadh from January 13 to 15.

The deals reflect the Kingdom’s efforts to expand its international partnerships and strengthen technical and investment cooperation in the mining and minerals sector in a manner that serves mutual interests and supports the sustainable development of mineral resources.

The signing ceremony included MoUs on cooperation in the mineral resources field with the Chilean Ministry of Mining, the Canadian Department of Natural Resources, and the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy.

The Ministerial Roundtable recorded the largest level of international representation of its kind globally, with participation from more than 100 countries, including all G20 members in addition to the European Union, as well as 59 multilateral organizations, industry associations, and non-governmental organizations.

The attendance reflects the standing the ministerial meeting has attained as a leading international platform for aligning perspectives, building partnerships, and developing practical solutions to global challenges in the mining and minerals sector.