MUSCAT: 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 organised by the Ibn Firnas Drone Centre at the St. Regis Al Mouj Hotel in Muscat, under the auspices of Eng Hamad bin Ali al Nazwani, Under-Secretary 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.
The summit featured the first Middle East unveiling of DJI’s Matrice 400, produced by global UAV leader DJI, which controls more than 80 per cent 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 Harthy, 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 centre 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 emphasised 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 kilogrammes, performing multiple tasks simultaneously and offering unprecedented stability and flight time.
Salim 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 revolutionised 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.
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