ع
Oman’s space sector has transitioned from an establishment phase to market-building, with the number of operating companies climbing from 11 in 2023 to 26 in 2025 for a 136 percent increase, the National Space Programme Achievements Report 2023-2025 found. Private-sector investment jumped 270 percent over the same period to RO74 million from an initial RO20 million, while employment across government and private entities rose 163 percent to 400 from 152, according to the document released this week. Around 65 percent of projects under the national space policy and its executive programme are now under implementation, covering space sovereignty, satellite development and launch capabilities, the report indicated. The National Centre for Space, Advanced Technologies and Artificial Intelligence produced the review that details this expansion.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology signed an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space in November 2025 for the design, manufacturing and launch of OmanSat-1, the country’s first national communications satellite, with operations scheduled to begin in 2029. Space Communications Technologies, owned by the Oman Investment Authority, was appointed as the national operator for the project following launch. This milestone forms part of broader efforts to strengthen satellite infrastructure and applications in areas such as communications and data services, a ministry assessment showed. Eng. Said Hamoud Al Maawali, the transport and communications minister, affirmed that the sector supports economic diversification and national capacity building.
Private participation has accelerated through dedicated satellite projects, with Aman-1, owned by Atco Space, becoming the first satellite launched by an Omani company when it reached orbit in November 2023. Oman Lens-1 followed in November 2024, integrating artificial intelligence with remote-sensing technologies for Earth observation, environmental monitoring and related uses. These initiatives have expanded the role of private firms in advancing national space capabilities, according to the achievements report.
National capacity-building programmes trained more than 300 participants between 2023 and 2025 in specialised space-related fields, the National Space Programme report stated. Oman’s first space accelerator programme supported 10 startups over an intensive 15-week course, resulting in seven new ventures ready to deliver products and services ranging from space communications to AI-enhanced geospatial analysis. Such efforts align with the goal of developing local expertise and fostering innovation within the sector, a government review noted.
Plans to position Duqm as a regional launch hub have progressed alongside infrastructure development, including the Etlaq commercial spaceport expected to begin full operations by the end of 2027. The National Space Policy, launched with royal approval in 2023, seeks to establish Oman as a gateway for space applications while supporting economic diversification, sustainability and security objectives. A Zawya analysis earlier in 2026 highlighted comparable momentum, noting the sector’s shift toward commercial growth and partnerships in launch services, remote sensing and consulting.
The achievements contribute to Oman Vision 2040 by building a sustainable space economy that leverages technology for broader national development, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has stated. Earlier data placed the sector’s contribution at 0.05 percent of gross domestic product with a market value of $155 million as of 2021, according to a National Digital Economy Programme assessment. International cooperation has expanded through agreements and conferences, further embedding Oman within the global space community. The report underscores steady advancement across investment, employment and project delivery over the three-year period.
