Oman to Host Second Middle East Space Conference: Key Opportunities for Investors and Entrepreneurs
MUSCAT, DECEMBER 20 — The Sultanate of Oman, through the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, has announced it will host the second Middle East Space Conference in January 2026. The event is being organized in collaboration with the space consulting firm Novaspace.
Scheduled for January 26 to 28, 2026, the conference will focus on the strategic, operational, and enabling aspects of space development within the Middle East. It aims to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and technical experts from both the region and internationally.
The first conference, held in 2024, attracted over 400 participants from around the world and featured 25 local and international space companies. It also witnessed significant sector developments, including the launch of Spacerz, a satellite manufacturing company established by ETCO Space in partnership with Polish firms SatRev and another technology partner, who collaborate on the Aman-1 satellite. Spacerz is dedicated to satellite manufacturing in Oman and offers space launch services.
Another major announcement was the launch of the Middle East and North Africa’s first spaceport, Etlaq, by a subsidiary of the National Aerospace Services Company. Located in Al Duqm, construction is underway, with full operations expected by 2027.
Additionally, earlier this year, the company initiated the Genesis Programme, a pilot experimental rocket project aimed at building Oman’s space launch capabilities and cultivating a national culture for space launch activities in preparation for commercial operations.
The inaugural conference was part of the Ministry’s wider National Space Programme, launched in 2023 as a ten-year initiative emphasizing economic diversification as a core strategy. The space sector currently contributes 0.05% to Oman’s GDP, with a market value of $155 million as of 2021.
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Oman’s hosting of the Middle East Space Conference 2026 signals a strategic leap toward establishing the Sultanate as a regional space industry hub, presenting fresh opportunities for businesses in satellite manufacturing, space launch services, and advanced technology sectors. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should consider capitalizing on the growing ecosystem around Al Duqm’s spaceport and the National Space Programme’s decade-long economic diversification goals, positioning themselves early in a market poised for accelerated growth and innovation.
