Dubai is exploring new possibilities to build its presence in the space sector and seems to be very fascinated with the idea of legalities beyond Earth. The country has announced the creation of a “space court” to settle commercial disputes that arise outside the purview of Earth.
The oil rich nation has invested heavily in this sector. In 2019 it sent to space its first astronaut and last year the country launched a probe named “Hope” towards Mars.
The tribunal is likely to be based in Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) Courts, an unbiased British-inspired arbitration based on common law. Space regulation is ruled by worldwide conventions and resolutions, together with the UN Outer Space Treaty which came into force in 1967. Several countries have also signed bilateral or multilateral agreements to regulate their activities in the space.