Oman Hosts Second Middle East Space Conference with Global Participation

The second edition of the Middle East Space Conference officially opened today at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, under the patronage of Dr. Kamel bin Fahd Al Said, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers.

The three-day conference brings together more than 500 experts and chief executive officers from the global space sector, representing government agencies and private companies from 30 countries, alongside over 85 international speakers.

Hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the conference aims to serve as a high-level platform for decision-makers to strengthen space diplomacy by promoting regional and international cooperation, facilitating knowledge transfer, and localizing best practices in the space sector. It also seeks to attract experts and investors to explore promising investment opportunities at both local and regional levels, while highlighting Oman’s growing role as a leading regional gateway for space services and applications that support economic diversification.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, emphasized that Oman’s space sector is witnessing rapid growth and a qualitative transformation driven by a clear national vision. He noted that this progress reflects the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and the effective implementation of strategic initiatives outlined in the National Space Policy and the Executive Program for the Space Sector (2023–2033), launched in January 2023.

He added that the ministry, through the National Space Program and in cooperation with local and international partners, has intensified efforts across key pillars of space sector development, particularly in building national capabilities, advancing scientific research and innovation, and supporting entrepreneurship.

Al Shidhani also highlighted that since the previous edition of the conference in January 2024, Oman has emerged as a model hub for space activities in the region, following the successful experimental launch of a rocket from the test launch platform in Duqm, which generated significant global attention and transformed ambitious plans into tangible achievements.