Two of the world’s largest Gulf investment groups are reportedly lining up a substantial funding round for SpaceX, Elon Musk’s private space enterprise. Information has reported that Badeel, a fund connected to the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and Alpha Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates are considering backing SpaceX through a formal financing arrangement routed via Morgan Stanley. The move signals a serious financial partnership rather than a simple equity stake and aims at raising a multi‑billion dollar amount that would bolster SpaceX’s standing in a crowded, competitive space industry and speed up ongoing programs.
SpaceX, founded in 2002, has grown into a leading force in spaceflight technology. Its portfolio features the Falcon family of rockets—Falcon 1, Falcon 9, and Falcon Heavy—along with the Dragon spacecraft family that enables cargo and crew missions. The company is also developing Starship, a fully reusable launch system designed to take humans deeper into space than ever before. Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation, is intended to deliver global broadband coverage and has become a cornerstone of the company’s broader ambitions. Together, these assets position SpaceX as a central player in modern aerospace and commercial space activity in North America and beyond.
The company has consistently pursued ambitious milestones. In early 2024, SpaceX conducted ground tests of booster systems for Starship, focusing on reusability and rapid turnaround. These trials validate the technologies needed for frequent departures and landings, key components in a future era of cost‑effective launches. Elevating Starship to operational status would reshape how missions are planned, potentially enabling higher flight rates and broader access to space for science, exploration, and commercial ventures.
Starship is envisioned as a next generation, super‑heavy launch system designed to support missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The concept centers on a fully reusable architecture aimed at lowering the cost per flight and shortening the turnaround time between launches. Elon Musk has described Starship as a vehicle that could help launch ambitious human spaceflight programs, including sustained lunar exploration and long‑term exploration of other planets, by combining strong propulsion, advanced manufacturing, and a scalable launch profile. The broader strategy highlights a move toward more frequent, affordable access to space that could enable partnerships with universities, governments, and private enterprises in North America and around the world.