Oman’s space launch approval: New gateway for global space access

When Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority published Directive CAD 5-01 in August 2025, it might have seemed like another piece of regulatory housekeeping. But in reality, the move could reshape how launch companies around the world think about access to orbit.

For decades, the bottleneck in space has not just been building rockets — it has been getting permission to launch them. In most major launch jurisdictions, launch approval processes can stretch six to eighteen months, with each mission requiring multiple approvals. For commercial players, this often means being pushed to the back of the line behind government satellites and strategic payloads.

Oman has chosen a different path. Instead of introducing a lengthy licensing regime, it has adopted a leaner approval model — a framework that also marks a precursor to the forthcoming Omani National Space Law. Launch service providers applying to launch from Omani territory can now receive approval in 45 days. That makes it one of the most agile systems in the world.

This isn’t just a technicality. In a global environment where operators are talking more and more about responsive launch — the ability to put satellites into orbit quickly, sometimes in response to sudden demand — Oman is placing itself directly in the middle of an unmet need. If a satellite operator requires urgent replacements, or a commercial constellation needs rapid deployment, Etlaq Spaceport can theoretically provide a green light far faster than other established launch pads.

The implications are both regional and global. For Oman, it positions the Sultanate as the Gulf’s first mover in space launch regulation, potentially attracting investors, aerospace suppliers, and regional partnerships. For the global launch industry, it offers an alternative to congested spaceports, lengthy approval processes, and procedural delays and red tape.

Earlier in 2025, during the Etlaq Launch Conference, PLD Space announced that Etlaq Spaceport will be its second global launch base for the MIURA launch vehicle family — a two-stage orbital-class vehicle designed for reusability and eventual payload delivery to orbit. While MIURA’s orbital flight from Oman should commence once the spaceport’s dedicated orbital complex is complete, the CAD 5-01 directive underscores Etlaq’s deepening partnership and regulatory engagement with PLD Space, setting the stage for future collaborative missions.

But the potential runs deeper. A faster approval framework could stimulate a broader space economy in Oman. Local suppliers may establish operations to serve incoming launch campaigns, from ground equipment to satellite integration facilities. Universities and research institutions could tap into new opportunities for suborbital experiments or small payload testing in the short term, while building capability for orbital missions. And investors may view Oman’s approach as evidence of a long-term strategy to carve out a niche in the rapidly expanding global space market.

The risks are real too. Being first in the region means the CAA and Etlaq Spaceport will need to prove that speed doesn’t come at the expense of safety. International recognition and compliance with UN protocols will be essential. But if Oman gets it right, it may have found a way to leapfrog bureaucratic inertia and place itself at the heart of one of the 21st century’s most strategic industries.

This is not just about rockets lifting off from Omani soil. It is about reshaping the timelines of access to orbit. And in a business where time is money, Oman’s 45-day promise could prove to be a game changer.