Muscat – Etlaq Spaceport, the first commercial spaceport in the Middle East and North Africa, has unveiled plans for five rocket launches in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the region’s burgeoning space industry. The launches will take place at the spaceport in Duqm, currently under development, with a designated viewing area soon opening for the public to witness these landmark missions free of charge.
At a press conference held on Thursday, Julanda al Riyami, Chief Commercial Officer of Etlaq, shared the spaceport’s ambitious launch schedule for 2025. He revealed Etlaq’s strategic collaborations with international partners from the UK, New Zealand, and Kuwait, showcasing the growing global connections of Oman’s space industry.
“We are thrilled to announce five launches in 2025, starting with the UNITY-1 mission in April, powered by Advanced Propulsion Technologies from the UK,” Riyami said. “These launches will highlight our expanding partnerships and the technical expertise of Etlaq and our collaborators.”
The first of the five launches, the UNITY-1 mission in April, will be followed by the Duqm-2 launch in June. This mission will be facilitated by New Zealand-based Stellar Kinetics in collaboration with Etlaq’s parent company, NASCOM. Riyami added that the Duqm-2 rocket would utilize a different launch vehicle compared to previous missions.
A more complex launch, Duqm-3, is scheduled for October, featuring distinct parameters and operational procedures. The fourth launch, planned for November, will be Kuwait Space Rocket’s Ambition-3, underscoring the growing regional collaboration in the space sector. The fifth and final launch for the year is expected in December.
Etlaq’s Genesis Programme: Laying the Foundation for Oman’s Space Future
At the core of Etlaq’s mission is the Genesis Programme, a groundbreaking initiative launched in 2024 to establish Oman’s ‘national space launch heritage.’ Inspired by the nation’s rich history of seafaring, the programme is seen as the natural next step in Oman’s transition to a spacefaring nation.
H H Sayyid Azzan bin Qais al Said, founder and CEO of Etlaq, explained the vision behind the Genesis Programme: “The Genesis Programme was launched as a proof of concept. At this stage, the programme is laying the foundation of what we call a national space launch heritage. We believe that having such a heritage is a fundamental prerequisite for commercial spaceport operations, which we plan to begin in 2027.”
He further emphasized that the programme’s goal is to host as many launches as possible between now and 2027, within safety and feasibility limits, while collaborating with multiple launch companies and experimental launch vehicles.
Partnerships and Milestones
The press conference also marked several significant partnerships and agreements. Etlaq signed a collaboration agreement with Spain’s PLD Space, paving the way for the launch of the MIURA 5 vehicle from Oman. This agreement signals a major leap in cooperation between Europe and Oman’s space industry.
Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Etlaq and SatMINA to jointly develop satellite ground station services and provide operational support for future launches.
In a further display of Oman’s growing commitment to the space sector, the Oman Society for Astronomy and Space unveiled a new logo during the event, reflecting the nation’s dedication to expanding its role in space exploration.
A New Era for Oman’s Space Industry
As Etlaq Spaceport prepares to become a key player in the global space industry, its vision for 2025 and beyond reflects a bold commitment to technological innovation, regional cooperation, and international collaboration. The successful execution of these upcoming launches will position Oman as a significant hub for space exploration in the Middle East and North Africa, setting the stage for the country’s commercial spaceport operations by 2027.
