News
Saudi Arabia To Host Sixth Halo Space Test Flight In September
The space tourism startup aims to conduct crewed flights in 2025 and commence full commercial operations by as early as 2026.
Space tourism company Halo Space has announced plans for another test flight in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for September 2024, in collaboration with the Kingdom’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST).
The event will be Halo Space’s 6th test flight and a key milestone in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy. The test will deploy Halo Space’s prototype Aurora capsule, which will travel around 30 km into Earth’s high atmosphere and the edge of space. According to Alberto Castrillo, Halo Space’s Chief Technology Officer, the flight will further test the engineering of the high-tech craft:
“The mission is designed to meticulously validate all the critical systems we’ve been developing for the past three years. The dates and location were set to ensure the reliable operation of our equipment and safe conditions for the teams on the ground operating the flight”.
Frank Salzgeber, Acting Deputy Governor for the Space Sector at CST, added, “This innovative project represents a significant step forward in Space Tourism. In support of such technological advancements and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, CST is always committed to providing regulatory frameworks that foster innovation among companies and projects like Halo Space while ensuring the safety of personnel and materials”.
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Halo Space’s prototype test flights are in preparation for the launch of fully crewed missions, which are expected to take place in 2025. Commercial flights could be available from 2026 and will offer the completely unique experience of rising gently above the Earth in a balloon-lifted capsule.
The journey, spanning up to 200 horizontal km and 35 vertical km, will last over six hours, allowing passengers to witness the curvature of the Earth and the vastness of space. Halo Space aims to make space tourism accessible to a wide audience by 2030 and plans to carry over 10,000 passengers by the decade’s end.
News
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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