Oman signs agreement to manufacture and launch first Omani satellite

The Sultanate of Oman has signed a cooperation agreement with the French company Airbus Defence and Space to design, manufacture and launch the first Omani communications satellite. This step supports national efforts to strengthen the communications system and digital sovereignty, and to develop national capabilities in space and future technologies.

The agreement was signed for Oman by Engineer Saeed bin Hamoud bin Saeed Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and for Airbus by Stéphane Vesval, Executive Vice President for Sales.

Airbus will design a high-capacity satellite operating in the Ka frequency band. Its coverage will include the Sultanate of Oman and its economic waters, as well as the Middle East, East Africa and Asia.

The satellite will be based on Airbus’s OneSat platform. It will offer full digital flexibility, allowing it to be reconfigured while in orbit.

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has assigned the operation of the project to Space Communication Technologies, a company owned by the Oman Investment Authority. Space Communication Technologies will serve as the national operator after launch and the executive arm during design and manufacturing.

To ensure effective management and coordination with stakeholders, the Ministry has established a dedicated project management office within the company. It will oversee the administrative and technical aspects of the project, ensure the readiness of the infrastructure needed to operate the satellite, and build a complete operational system in Oman to manage the satellite and provide services to public and private institutions after launch.

Engineer Saeed bin Hamoud bin Saeed Al Mawali said that the project aims to strengthen Oman’s digital sovereignty by establishing a national space-based infrastructure capable of providing communications and data services independently and securely. This will improve national information security and support the continuity of vital services in all circumstances. It will also expand coverage in rural areas and enhance communications and internet services in line with digital transformation and the foundations of Oman Vision 2040.

He added that the project is a key driver of technical knowledge transfer and localisation. It includes intensive programmes to train and prepare Omani professionals across all phases—from design to manufacturing, testing and operation—so that the project will be fully managed by Omani expertise after launch. It also supports local companies, particularly small and medium enterprises, to participate in the project’s supply chain. The project further aims to empower research and development through partnerships between local universities and Airbus Defence and Space. The satellite is scheduled for launch in September 2028 and for operation to begin in May 2029.

Dr Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology and head of the negotiation team, said the project represents a major milestone in Oman’s path towards technological and space advancement. It reflects the Government’s commitment to building a sustainable digital economy based on knowledge and technology. It will enhance the national communications ecosystem for the benefit of vital sectors and support digital transformation and smart services.

He noted that the project crowns several years of national efforts to study and evaluate the best technical and engineering options for designing, manufacturing and launching an Omani satellite. Collaboration with Airbus ensures effective institutional integration between government, investment and private entities to realise Oman’s national vision for space and communications.

Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, expressed his delight at signing the contract to provide Oman with world-class and fully flexible satellite communications capabilities through its first geostationary satellite. He affirmed that Airbus will work closely with Space Communications Technologies to support the execution of its national satellite programme and build sovereign capabilities for its future clients.

Dr Saud Humaid Al Shuaili, Director General of Policy and Governance (Head of the National Space Programme at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology), said the project is one of the most important strategic initiatives under the National Space Policy (2023–2033). The policy seeks to position Oman as the regional gateway for space services and technologies, enabling economic diversification and future opportunities, boosting the sector’s contribution to GDP and expanding national space services.

He added that the project aligns with Ministry initiatives to develop the space sector in partnership with the local private sector through satellite launch activities from Duqm Port under the Idaq programme, national capacity-building programmes to maximise the use of space services, the Oman Space Accelerators Programme and projects related to geospatial data and Earth observation. These form an integrated system supporting the space economy in Oman.

Engineer Salim bin Said Al-Alawi, Executive Director of Space Communication Technologies, expressed his pride in the trust placed by the Ministry and the Oman Investment Authority in assigning the company responsibility for operating and managing this national project. He noted that the project marks a major turning point in Oman’s satellite communications history. He added that the company, in partnership with Airbus, will implement the project according to the highest international standards.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.