The Sultanate of Oman has made significant strides in the field of space. In 2023, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology unveiled the National Space Policy and Executive Programmeme with the aim of positioning Oman as a regional and global gateway for space applications.
The programmeme falls under the umbrella of the Oman Vision 2040’s National Digital Economy Plan, which aims to boost the contribution of the digital economy to the local GDP from 2% currently to 5% by 2030 and 10% by 2040.
The 10-year framework has identified economic diversification as a key pillar behind boosting the sector, which currently contributes 0.05% to the local GDP with a market value of $155 million as of 2021.
As a result, the National Space Policy and Executive Programmeme aims to support the development of a commercially oriented and competitive Omani space sector through a structured approach.
A primary focus is the prioritisation of investments within the downstream space sector which consists of terrestrial space operations and services such as earth observation and satellite services. According to officials from the Ministry, the downstream sector makes up 90% of the overall global space market, contributing to $303.3 billion as of 2021.
According to the programmeme, the Omani space market is entirely focused on the downstream sector, with satellite communication and navigation services accounting for 95% of the market.
Another key focus is supporting the growth of the local space ecosystem. According to the programmeme, this will be carried out by establishing conditions for a vibrant, sustainable and competitive space ecosystem, while providing sustained support for private sector establishments.
This is in addition to attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to accelerate the development of the national space sector, with an emphasis on long-term collabourations that will allow for technology transfer, and the building of local expertise.
Consequently, the Ministry unveiled 14 investment opportunities within the sector including a space cloud partnership, satellite ground station hub, direct receiving station (DRS), national space data platform, end-user applications booster programme (sandbox), centre of excellence for space applications, CubeSat project, national satellite communications initiative, national space observatory, regional satellite navigation augmentation system, launch site partnership, satellite research and development programme, space accelerator, and world space conference.
Some of the initiatives have already been achieved, notably such as the World Space Conference which took place earlier this year, the launch of the CubeSat project (Aman-1), and the establishment of space cloud partnerships. According to the officials, the Ministry is currently in the process of developing 5-6 of these initiatives.
Furthermore, the volume of investments within the sector amounted to over RO 20 million worth of investments within the sector over the last two years.
While economic diversification serves as a key pillar of Oman’s space strategy, it is worth noting that other key pillars include capacity building, establishing national security, and using space technologies for climate monitoring and natural resource management.
Timeline
January 2023
Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology unveils National Space Policy and Executive Programmeme
July 2023
The Global Space and Technology Company announces the creation of Zone 88, a scientific and economic space zone located at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm. The project, set to launch in 2025, will include a space habitat centre, a ground launch station, a commercial space launching area, an artificial intelligence and advanced technology testing area and an unmanned vehicles technology centre.
November 2023
Oman’s first satellite, “Aman-1” launched successfully into orbit onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket following a failed attempt earlier that year onboard Virgin Group’s satellite launch subsidiary Virgin Orbit. The nano-satellite is the product of a joint collabouration between Omani tech company ETCO Space, Polish satellite manufacturer SatRev and Polish tech company TUATARA. It was announced that data from Aman-1 will be used to monitor Oman’s gas transportation system operated by OQ Gas Networks (OQGN).
January 2024
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) hosted the Middle East Space Conference, as part of the initiatives identified by the programmeme. The conference drew over 400 global and regional participants and showcased 25 local and international space companies. Key announcement made during the conference:
• Satellite Manufacturing: Omani company ETCO Space announced the launch of a new company “Spacerz” to manufacture satellites in Oman. The joint venture is a joint effort between ETCO Space, Polish satellite manufacturer SatRev and a Polish tech company, both collabourators in the launch of the Aman-1 satellite. The company will also offer space launch services.
• MENA’s first SpacePort: Omani National Aerospace Services Company (Nascom) announced the launch of the first spaceport in the MENA region: Etlaq Spaceport. Located in Duqm near the equator, the spaceport will support the assembly, testing, and launch of commercial, professional, and educational rockets. Construction of the project has already begun, and the first launch of a space rocket is expected to take place in December 2024. The spaceport is expected to be fully operational by 2026/2027.
Ground Station Licence: Oman Lens Company became the first space company in Oman to acquire a licence to establish a ground station connected to a satellite network issued by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). The station will enable the company to monitor, track and control satellites within the Star Vision Aerospace Limited network and provide imaging services.
April 2024
ETCO Oman also acquires a licence to establish a ground station connected to a satellite network. Separately, Etlaq and ETCO Space announced a collabouration for research development and skill development. According to the MOU, Etlaq Spaceport will provide R&D facilities, while ETCO Space is expected to contribute with its satellite and space propulsion technology expertise. The MOU will also allow ETCO Space to use the Duqm-based spaceport to launch its future payloads from Oman.
June 2024
Etlaq announces a MOU with US-based ABL Space Systems for the launch of ABL’s RS1 launch vehicle from the spaceport.
September 2024
MTCIT announced a tender for the development of a Space Accelerator Programmeme, in an effort to support entrepreneurs and local startups in the industry, with an emphasis on key areas including communications, earth observation, geospatial analytics, drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning, big data processing, data storage and preservation, space sustainability, and spacecraft simulation.
October 2024
MTCIT announced that it is in the process of acquiring the first national telecommunications satellite.
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