Uncharted legal territories: harmonizing administrative law for space tourism in Saudi Arabia, Europe, and the United States

Abstract Due to the recent rise in space tourism, it has emerged as an industry at the forefront of innovative business and legal frameworks. This paper raises novel legal questions about how to align administrative law with the evolving space tourism industry, focusing on Saudi Arabia, Europe, and the United States. It begins with a historical overview of the global development of space tourism and addresses the limitations of current international space law, such as the Outer Space Treaty of 1967. The paper explores the relationship between administrative law and aerospace regulation, analyzing challenges related to liability, passenger rights, environmental concerns, and jurisdictional issues. It includes a comparative analysis of the administrative and regulatory aspects of Saudi Arabia concerning Vision 2030 projects and guidelines, the European Space Agency, and the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States. The findings highlight areas of regulatory insufficiency: there are no widely accepted international norms, monitoring private space providers is challenging, and risks are associated with the uncontrolled commercialization of outer space. To tackle these challenges, the study offers practical strategic recommendations, including the necessity for an international regulatory system, enhancements to liability and insurance frameworks, integration of environmental legal requirements for sustainability, and strengthening public-private partnerships (PPP). In conclusion, this paper advocates for international cooperation aligned with administrative laws to mitigate potential emerging risks in this rapidly growing field.