Recently I had an intriguing meeting with Etlaq’s spaceport CCO, Julanda al Riyami, who shared about the company that was behind the Duqm-1 rocket launch here in Oman. I was also invited to attend the Etlaq’s 1st Annual Launch Conference to learn about their ambitious plans for Oman’s spaceport and the potential impact of this initiative from technological advancements to economic growth. Over 150 senior people from the private and government sectors attended the event. The visionary, founder of National Aerospace Services Company (NASCOM) and the CEO of Etlaq, who is guiding Oman's National Space Programme, was present too. I was intrigued by the vision and decided to explore the topic further by writing this article that focuses on how the spaceport will create more jobs, opportunities, projects, investments and educational pathways for Oman. But first, let me briefly introduce the initiative.
Etlaq spaceport is a partnership project between NASCOM and Omantel. The concept of Etlaq was created in order to efficiently capitalise on the unique latitude and downrange clearance of the Wilayat of Al Duqm. The main purpose of Etlaq is to be an integrated space launch complex offering a comprehensive range of on-site facilities, including multiple launch complexes to accommodate launch vehicles. Their focus is to drive national capacity building within scientific research and promote global partnerships in Oman's space sector.
Etlaq Spaceport is the first commercial spaceport in the Middle East and North Africa. A few months ago (in December 2024), the spaceport made history with its first experimental launch reaching a potential altitude of 140 km above sea level. This year itself, the company is planning to launch 5 more rockets into space, in addition to launching a fan zone for the public.
Over 2 decades ago, the Internet was launched in Oman. Many people saw it just as a tool for communication, but a few realised it was a revolution in the making. The result? The entire industry was refined, not just in Oman but all over the world. For me and a few more innovative entrepreneurs, it was the birth of an exciting opportunity to create solutions that can add value to society as a whole. The internet didn’t just connect people — NO. It actually created a new world altogether.
History will now repeat itself but in a bigger way, InshaAllah! We will have more jobs, opportunities, projects and even more investment across the seas pouring into the Sultanate of Oman. All will be in and for the space.
Space, once upon a time, was only the domain of governments. Then came entrepreneurs of the likes of Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos, who saw beyond the impossible and disrupted the space industry. They didn’t just ask, ‘Can we go to space?’ They asked, ‘How can we make the space work for the business, for humanity and for the future? For Oman, innovative individuals and corporations will now ask the same.
New employment opportunities, directly and indirectly, will be created — from engineers and scientists to logistics and security personnel — retaining local talent and attracting global expertise to Oman. Furthermore, industries such as construction, tourism and services will be boosted to support further strengthening of the economy ultimately. As a result, more investments will flow into Omani startups and companies that work on projects for the space.
What else? The development of new technologies in aerospace, artificial intelligence and data analytics will be encouraged, opening new pathways for education. This, in turn, will create opportunities for entrepreneurs and local businesses to contribute to the growing space ecosystem. Universities and research institutions will have a unique chance to collaborate and offer specialised programmes in aerospace, where students, as a consequence, will be inspired to pursue careers in space.
In conclusion, we are not just building a spaceport. We are building the infrastructure for Oman’s next economic boom. Just as the internet redefined the 21st century, space will redefine the 22nd. In the next few years, people in the Arab world will talk about Oman having built something extraordinary for the Arab world. Not just introduced a technology but created a legacy altogether. The journey to space starts in Oman. Until we catch up again next week, be bold, be brave and think about how you can play a significant role for the space.
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