Muscat: Oman inaugurated the first edition of the Firnas Summit at the St. Regis Al Mouj, under the patronage of Eng. Hamad bin Ali Al Nazwani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning for Housing. Organized by the Ibn Firnas Drone Centre, the summit brought together experts from government, private, and military sectors to highlight Oman’s growing role in drone technologies and their applications across industries.
Showcasing Drone Innovation
The event featured the first Middle East launch of DJI’s Matrice 400 (M400) drone, with a live demonstration of its capabilities in aerial surveying, 3D mapping, and applications spanning urban planning, energy, telecommunications, agriculture, and security. DJI, the global UAV leader with over 80% market share, emphasized its confidence in Oman through its partnership with the Ibn Firnas Centre, DJI’s exclusive agent in the Sultanate.
Building a National Drone Ecosystem
The summit underscored Oman’s ambition to become a regional hub for drone innovation, supporting Oman Vision 2040 goals of a diversified, knowledge-based economy. The Ibn Firnas Drone Centre, Oman’s first specialized drone facility, has executed over 200 projects, supplied more than 1,000 drones, and logged 7,000+ flight hours. Its integrated services include sales, maintenance, training, industrial applications, and anti-drone technologies.
CEO Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Harthy described the summit as a turning point, highlighting three pillars of the centre’s role:
- Firnas Academy, the first CAA-licensed drone pilot training academy.
- Firnas Innovation Lab, focused on AI-powered software development tailored to local and regional needs.
- Comprehensive technical support and maintenance services ensuring operational continuity.
Driving Knowledge and Smart City Development
The summit featured working papers and case studies on drones in water and wastewater management, electricity, telecoms, and urban planning, with participation from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Nama Group, and Omantel. Presentations demonstrated how drones can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate service delivery, strengthening infrastructure for smart cities and improving quality of life.
Global Partnerships and Future Prospects
DJI’s Ferdinand Ma noted that launching the M400 in Oman reflects the company’s strategic trust in the market: “The Firnas Summit is an ideal platform to exchange ideas about the future of this sector and to showcase advanced technologies that will support economic and knowledge development.”
The summit concluded with a panel discussion featuring Ibn Firnas, DJI, and the Civil Aviation Authority, focusing on the future regulation and deployment of drones to drive economic growth, innovation, and national development.
