Oman hosted the first-ever launch in the Middle East of the DJI Matrice 400 (M400) drone, during the inaugural edition of the Firnas Summit. The event was organized by the Ibn Firnas Drone Center at the St. Regis Al Mouj Hotel in Muscat, under the patronage of Eng. Hamad bin Ali Al Nazwani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning for Housing, with the participation of leading experts and decision-makers from government, private, and military sectors.
The summit aims to strengthen Oman’s position as a regional hub for drone technology and industry, opening new opportunities for the national economy in the knowledge economy, digital transformation, smart cities, and artificial intelligence. It also serves as an annual platform to showcase the latest innovations and exchange expertise between national institutions and international companies, in line with Oman Vision 2040.
First Launch of the DJI Matrice 400 in the Region
The summit featured the first Middle East unveiling of DJI’s Matrice 400, produced by global UAV leader DJI, which controls more than 80% of the global market. The event included a live demonstration of the drone’s capabilities in aerial surveying, 3D mapping, urban planning, utilities, energy, telecommunications, agriculture, and security, highlighting its role in improving efficiency, cutting costs, and speeding up project delivery.
Mohammed Al Harthi, CEO of the Ibn Firnas Drone Center, stressed that the summit marks a turning point in building an integrated national ecosystem for drones that goes beyond equipment supply to include training, development, and innovation. He noted that the center has executed more than 200 projects within Oman, delivered over 1,000 drones to civilian and military sectors, and contributed to housing sector development through land surveys. He also emphasized their growing role in security, particularly in effective border surveillance compared to traditional methods. He added that this year’s Firnas Summit focuses on key issues in housing, electricity, water, and security.
Ferdinand Ma, Regional Partnerships Manager of DJI for the Middle East and North Africa, said choosing Oman for the Matrice 400’s regional launch reflects DJI’s strong confidence in the Omani market. He confirmed that the partnership with the Ibn Firnas Center will boost Oman’s position as a regional hub for drone technology. He added that this model is currently the leading drone in its category, capable of carrying payloads of over six kilograms, performing multiple tasks simultaneously, and offering unprecedented stability and flight time.
Eng. Salem Al Kindi, Director of the Survey Department at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, affirmed that the ministry has always been a pioneer in adopting modern equipment for urban planning. Recently, drones were introduced for map production, including 3D maps. He explained that this technology has revolutionized planning, eliminating the need for traditional survey cranes that required significant time and effort, as drones now enable planners and engineers to produce highly accurate maps with remarkable speed.
He highlighted a practical example: a project carried out by the ministry in the villages of Jabal Shams, Wilayat Al-Hamra, which took only two days using drones, compared to two months or more using traditional methods.
Discussions and Future Plans
The summit’s agenda included technical papers and case studies on the role of drones in water, wastewater, electricity, telecommunications, and urban planning sectors, with contributions from key entities such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Nama Group, and Omantel. The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring the CEO of the Ibn Firnas Drone Center, representatives from DJI, and the Civil Aviation Authority, where they exchanged insights on the future of the drone industry, regulatory mechanisms, and development strategies.
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