Oman has signed a landmark agreement with Airbus Space Systems for the design, manufacturing and launch of its first national communications satellite, OmanSat-1 — a milestone that will elevate the country’s space capabilities and strengthen regional digital sovereignty.
The agreement was signed by Engineer Saeed bin Hamoud al Maawali, Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and Alain Faure, CEO of Airbus Space Systems. The satellite’s coverage footprint will extend across Oman, the wider Middle East, East Africa and parts of Asia, supporting government, commercial and strategic communications needs.
Built on Airbus’s highly flexible OneSat platform, OmanSat-1 will be capable of full digital reconfiguration while in orbit, allowing dynamic allocation of capacity based on regional demand. Airbus will work closely with Space Communications Technologies, the OIA-owned firm that will operate the satellite once deployed.
The project also includes training and qualification of Omani engineers and specialists, along with participation opportunities for local companies in the supply chain — reinforcing national competency building in the space sector.
Oman views this satellite as a cornerstone of its National Space Policy, aiming to diversify the economy and strengthen the Sultanate’s role in the global space industry. Future plans include enabling satellite launches from the Port of Duqm as the country moves toward a more self-reliant space ecosystem.
