High time for the launch of low-altitude economy
Published: 03:03 PM,Mar 11,2025 | EDITED : 07:03 PM,Mar 11,2025
The low altitude economy refers to the commercial use of airspace under 300 meters, enabled by drones, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, and advanced air mobility systems.
During a recent episode of 'Seen', a Ramadhan TV show hosted by Saudi social innovator Ahmad al Shugairi, viewers were introduced to China’s groundbreaking embrace of the “low altitude economy'. This concept is revolutionising sectors from agriculture to disaster relief. For Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where vast deserts meet ambitious economic visions, this emerging frontier offers a paradigm shift opportunity.
The low altitude economy refers to the commercial use of airspace under 300 metres, enabled by drones, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles and advanced air mobility systems. These technologies are driven by high-speed connectivity, AI and automation, facilitating rapid logistics, precision agriculture and emergency services. Globally, the drone market alone is projected to reach RO 21 billion by 2025 (Goldman Sachs), with China leading investments at almost RO 1 billion in 2023.
Oman Vision 2040 prioritises economic diversification, tech-driven growth and enhanced connectivity — goals aligned with at least low altitude solutions. First, logistics in rugged terrain in Oman’s mountainous interior and desert expanses pose logistical hurdles. Drones could slash delivery costs for e-commerce and medical supplies. Zipline, a Rwandan drone start-up, reduced blood delivery times from 4 hours to 45 minutes in remote areas — a model applicable to Oman’s 44 per cent rural population. The second solution is in tourism. Oman’s tourism sector, contributing 2.4 per cent to GDP in 2022, could leverage drones for aerial tours of sites like Al Jabal Al Akhdhar or marine life monitoring, enhancing visitor experiences while preserving ecosystems.
Agriculture
With agriculture consuming 82 per cent of Oman’s water (FAO), drone-enabled precision farming could optimise irrigation. China’s agricultural drone sector, valued at RO5 billion, increased crop yields by 10–20 per cent, a potential blueprint for Oman’s 1.2 million hectares of arable land.
Beyond Oman
The GCC, seeking post-oil diversification, could collectively harness low altitude tech. First, cross-border drone corridors could streamline GCC trade, which hit RO 50 billion in 2022. Dubai’s Drone Strategy 2030 aims to deploy 100,000 drones for transport and logistics, saving around RO 6 billion annually.
Disaster Response
With the rise in adverse weather conditions, drones offer rapid crisis intervention, critical in climate-vulnerable GCC. After 2023’s Cyclone Shaheen, Oman could have deployed drones for real-time damage assessments, mirroring China’s post-flood responses. A third of opportunities lie in smart cities. NEOM and other GCC smart cities could integrate eVTOLs for urban mobility, reducing congestion. The global eVTOL market, expected to hit almost RO 12 billion by 2030 (Markets and Markets), aligns with the UAE’s ambition to launch air taxis by 2026.
In terms of navigating potential challenges, regulatory frameworks, public safety and infrastructure remain hurdles, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has begun drafting drone policies, licensing high growth start-ups such as Serb that specialises in Unmanned Travel Management (UTM), but GCC-wide collaboration — akin to the EU’s U-Space initiative — is vital. Public-private partnerships, like Saudi Arabia’s almost RO 8 billion drone manufacturing hub, can spur local innovation.
The low altitude economy is not mere futurism — it’s an actionable pathway for Oman and the GCC to leapfrog infrastructural gaps, foster inclusive growth, and secure global tech leadership. As Al Shugairi’s 'Seen' highlighted, the sky is no longer the limit — it’s the launchpad.
The low altitude economy refers to the commercial use of airspace under 300 metres, enabled by drones, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles and advanced air mobility systems. These technologies are driven by high-speed connectivity, AI and automation, facilitating rapid logistics, precision agriculture and emergency services. Globally, the drone market alone is projected to reach RO 21 billion by 2025 (Goldman Sachs), with China leading investments at almost RO 1 billion in 2023.
Oman Vision 2040 prioritises economic diversification, tech-driven growth and enhanced connectivity — goals aligned with at least low altitude solutions. First, logistics in rugged terrain in Oman’s mountainous interior and desert expanses pose logistical hurdles. Drones could slash delivery costs for e-commerce and medical supplies. Zipline, a Rwandan drone start-up, reduced blood delivery times from 4 hours to 45 minutes in remote areas — a model applicable to Oman’s 44 per cent rural population. The second solution is in tourism. Oman’s tourism sector, contributing 2.4 per cent to GDP in 2022, could leverage drones for aerial tours of sites like Al Jabal Al Akhdhar or marine life monitoring, enhancing visitor experiences while preserving ecosystems.
Agriculture
With agriculture consuming 82 per cent of Oman’s water (FAO), drone-enabled precision farming could optimise irrigation. China’s agricultural drone sector, valued at RO5 billion, increased crop yields by 10–20 per cent, a potential blueprint for Oman’s 1.2 million hectares of arable land.
Beyond Oman
The GCC, seeking post-oil diversification, could collectively harness low altitude tech. First, cross-border drone corridors could streamline GCC trade, which hit RO 50 billion in 2022. Dubai’s Drone Strategy 2030 aims to deploy 100,000 drones for transport and logistics, saving around RO 6 billion annually.
Disaster Response
With the rise in adverse weather conditions, drones offer rapid crisis intervention, critical in climate-vulnerable GCC. After 2023’s Cyclone Shaheen, Oman could have deployed drones for real-time damage assessments, mirroring China’s post-flood responses. A third of opportunities lie in smart cities. NEOM and other GCC smart cities could integrate eVTOLs for urban mobility, reducing congestion. The global eVTOL market, expected to hit almost RO 12 billion by 2030 (Markets and Markets), aligns with the UAE’s ambition to launch air taxis by 2026.
In terms of navigating potential challenges, regulatory frameworks, public safety and infrastructure remain hurdles, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has begun drafting drone policies, licensing high growth start-ups such as Serb that specialises in Unmanned Travel Management (UTM), but GCC-wide collaboration — akin to the EU’s U-Space initiative — is vital. Public-private partnerships, like Saudi Arabia’s almost RO 8 billion drone manufacturing hub, can spur local innovation.
The low altitude economy is not mere futurism — it’s an actionable pathway for Oman and the GCC to leapfrog infrastructural gaps, foster inclusive growth, and secure global tech leadership. As Al Shugairi’s 'Seen' highlighted, the sky is no longer the limit — it’s the launchpad.