Space tourism begins in the UAE and it is reported that space flights will start next year and will cost at least Dh600,000.
With inception of EOS-X Space by Kemel Kharbachi headquartered in Europe, space flights will commence operation around the third quarter of 2025 in Abu Dhabi, Spain.
After the finalization of developing the Spaceship One manned capsules, the firm stated the validation test would be held soon with military pilots with the collaboration of Spain’s National Institute for Aerospace Technology (Inta).
The pressurized capsules of EOS-X Space shall have a capacity to host up to eight passengers including a pilot, while being lifted by a helium balloon considered environmentally friendly.
These capsules get to the edge of the stratosphere at a height of 40 thousand meters, where space tourists have spectacular views of space, the ‘blue halo’, and the curvature of the Earth for a five-hour trip compared to the 11 minutes offered by Blue Origin Rocket.
The Spanish firm stated that passengers do not have to prepare themselves vigorously and proposed a one-week programme of cultural, taste, stem cell, and wealth tourism. The price for each passenger starts from € 150,000 (£600,000) up to € 200 £800, 000, depending on selected package.
Exposing information about the kind of flights, the company noted that other companies use rockets for space flights that costs the passengers about one million dollars for a brief ride which requires rigorous training and conformation to certain physical health standards.
It also stated that Abu Dhabi will house one of the largest complexes of the firm and the shuttle and spaceport and a hotel complex situated in Yas Island. The third plant is proposed to be located in Tulum, Mexico and the company expects it to come online by 2026.
“For now, we are trying to sell an ultra-luxury product targeting the global audience of around 20 million ‘ultra-rich’ clients and other affluent elites willing and capable of spending €150,000 to €200,000 to have a unique luxurious experience, “added Kharbachi.
All across the world, the market for space tourism stands at over $9 billion.
“Space tourism is one of the few businesses with investment opportunities as vast as human interest in traveling to space,” he said, and continued:
“It will get to a point where this way of exploring the world is more common and launched just like the aviation industry.”
Even better, Kharbachi and his management team anticipated that the RCF from Spain and Abu Dhabi could amount to $353m in the first year, coupled with an 19 percent gross margin.
Turning to the long-term objectives of the company, it is expected that by 2029, the turnover will reach $1 127 million with the gross profit being $324 million, in essence, the profit growing by 23.3 % YoY.
