MUSCAT: The Middle East Space Conference 2024 kicked off on Monday at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The ceremony was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham al Said.
The gathering brings together 400 experts and executives in the space sector from government departments and private sector firms from the Sultanate of Oman and abroad.
Seventy speakers will elaborate on a wide spectrum of issues during the three-day event hosted by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, in cooperation with Euroconsult.
The conference, which seeks to achieve the vision, and objectives of Oman’s space program, will highlight investment opportunities in Oman as a regional gateway for space services and applications.
Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said that the conference constitutes a step forward in Oman’s policy of economic diversification.
The minister told reporters that the programme envisages the launch of a satellite in 2025 and other programmes for close observation of the Earth through low-orbit satellites. The programme includes the development of related applications via satellites, said Eng Said al Maawali, noting that incubators for startups in the space field will be launched in 2024 or 2025.
On the sidelines of the conference, an investment agreement was signed by National Satellite Services Company and Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) to inaugurate a company specialised in space services (codenamed Itlaaq) whose headquarters will be in Al Duqm.
The agreement was signed by HH Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, Chairman of the National Satellite Services Company’s Board of Directors, and Talal bin Said al Maamari, CEO of Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel).
An exhibition held on the sidelines of the conference showcased products of 25 local and international companies specialised in space technologies and sciences.
The exhibition aims at bringing together providers and users of space services and technologies to exchange experiences and build effective partnerships and supply chain. It also helps attract investment opportunities and spread awareness about the progress made in space sector industry technologies.
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