Oman works on first space economic zone

The value of the Middle East space sector is expected to hit $75 billion by 2032

Oman started construction of Zone 88, the Sultanate’s first scientific and economic zone committed to space industries and advanced technologies.

The project is being developed at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm and is 25 percent complete, Bahiya Al Shuaibi, founder and CEO of Global Space and Technology Company, told Duqm Economist magazine.

The zone consists of five projects: a space habitat centre, commercial space launching area, unmanned vehicles technology centre, artificial intelligence and advanced technology testing area and ground station.

The space habitat centre aims to create an environment that simulates living in space, such as on Mars and the Moon. It will enable the study of astronauts’ behaviour before they join manned space missions, serve as a training hub and support scientific tourism, said Al Shuaibi.

Euroconsult’s white paper, released in January 2024, estimated that the value of the Middle East space sector is expected to hit $75 billion by 2032, with spending is forecast to increase by 92% over the next decade.