Bahrain approves launch of Elon Musk’s Starlink

Bahrain has approved the launch of Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by US billionaire Elon Musk.

Reuters | Following Bahrain’s launch, Elon Musk's Starlink now has a presence across the six-nation GCC bloc

The service will be launched by Sama X, an authorised Starlink global reseller, following the green light from the Gulf state’s telecommunications regulatory authority.

High-speed internet connectivity will be offered nationwide across Bahrain, both on land and in national waters, using Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellation, Sama X said in a statement.

Kuwait-based Alghanim Industries Group owns Sama X, offering the service in Kuwait.

Following Bahrain’s launch, Starlink now has a presence across the six-nation GCC bloc.

In November, Dubai-based Emirates said it will deploy Starlink across its entire 232-aircraft in-service fleet by mid-2027, starting with Boeing 777s in late 2025 and moving to Airbus A380s in 2026.

Qatar Airways was the first Gulf airline to launch Starlink service across its Boeing 777 fleet in October 2024.

Saudi Arabia and Oman have already approved Starlink.

In December, Starlink sent its executives to Iraq to prepare for entry into the lucrative Arab market, where they held talks with caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani.

By Pramod Kumar

January 12, 2026, 4:07 PM