MUSCAT: Oman’s space sector has moved from an establishment phase towards building a commercial market, supported by rising private investment, a growing number of companies and employees, major satellite projects and expanded national capacity-building programmes, according to the National Space Programme’s 2023–2025 review.

The review highlights significant progress in infrastructure, human-capital development, international partnerships, investment and the regulatory environment, as Oman seeks to develop space applications and services that support economic diversification and the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

His Excellency Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said the space sector is developing rapidly as an enabling sector for the digital economy, economic diversification and national capability building.

His Excellency Al Maawali said the ministry would continue implementing the objectives of the National Space Policy in cooperation with its partners, accelerating knowledge and technology transfer and strengthening private-sector participation to support the development of a sustainable national space economy.

According to the report, the number of companies operating in Oman’s space sector increased from 11 in 2023 to 20 in 2024 and 26 in 2025, representing growth of 136 percent over the three-year period.

Employment across government and private institutions operating in the sector also rose from 152 in 2023 to 241 in 2024 and 400 in 2025, an increase of 163 percent.

Private-sector investment increased from RO 20 million in 2023 to RO 65 million in 2024 and RO 74 million in 2025, representing growth of 270 percent compared with 2023.

The report said around 65 percent of space projects are now being implemented under the National Space Policy and its executive programme, alongside initiatives focused on national capacity building, space sovereignty, satellites and launch activities.

Among the sector’s major infrastructure projects is OmanSat-1, Oman’s first national communications satellite.

In November 2025, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology signed an agreement with Airbus Defence and Space for the design, manufacture and launch of OmanSat-1. The satellite will use Airbus’ OneSat platform and provide high-throughput Ka-band communications coverage over Oman, including its economic waters, as well as the Middle East, East Africa and Asia.

The project is being implemented through Space Communications Technologies (SCT), Oman’s national satellite operator and the lead entity for the National Satellite Programme. SCT is owned by the ITHCA Group under the Oman Investment Authority.

The satellite is intended to support government and private networks and applications in areas including oil and gas, banking, broadband, maritime and aviation connectivity, while contributing to the development of national capabilities and Oman’s digital infrastructure.

Airbus and Omani authorities have indicated that satellite development, manufacturing, testing and launch activities will extend into the latter part of the decade, with commercial operations targeted for 2029.

Oman is also developing a rocket launch project in Duqm, aimed at establishing national capabilities for experimental and suborbital launches and preparing the infrastructure for commercial launch services.

The project is being implemented through the National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM) in cooperation with specialised international partners.

The programme recorded experimental launch activity in 2024 and 2025, supporting efforts to develop expertise in launch technologies and related infrastructure and to strengthen Duqm’s potential as a regional location for space-related activities.

Human-capital development has been another major focus of the national programme.

During 2023–2025, eight specialised training programmes were implemented, benefiting more than 300 participants. The programmes covered areas including space applications and remote sensing, space policy and strategy, Earth-observation data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, deep learning, project management and entrepreneurship.

In entrepreneurship, the first Oman Space Accelerator Programme (OSAP) was launched in 2025. The 15-week programme supported 10 startups through technical and business training, mentorship, prototype development and engagement with investors.

The programme concluded with 10 participating startups presenting their solutions, while seven startups graduated from the first cohort, according to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.

The participating companies worked on solutions spanning satellite communications, geospatial artificial intelligence, remote sensing, astronomy, Internet of Things technologies, rocket propulsion, space manufacturing and drones.

The ministry is also working with Sultan Qaboos University to develop a Space Engineering Laboratory aimed at supporting research, development and innovation and building national capabilities in the design, manufacture and launch of CubeSats.

The project began in October 2023 with the signing of a memorandum of cooperation to establish and host the laboratory. Its first phase, covering 2024–2025, included the establishment of a ground station, while the second phase, running through 2027, focuses on developing the laboratory’s infrastructure and equipping it with advanced systems.