Oman Opens Fast Track to Orbit: How 45-Day Licensing Could Reshape Regional Space Access

Oman has taken a major step toward becoming a regional hub for commercial space activities with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approving a new directive to license space launches in as little as 45 days. This streamlined regulatory structure positions the Sultanate as the first Gulf nation to introduce a comprehensive system for regulating and supporting launch operations. The initiative supports the operations of the Etlaq Spaceport, managed by Oman’s National Space Services Company NASCOM. Etlaq hosted its inaugural suborbital launch—NASCOM’s Duqm-1 mission—in December, marking the beginning of Oman’s entry into global launch capabilities. The spaceport is designed to handle suborbital and orbital missions, accommodating micro, small, medium, and heavy launchers bound for equatorial, polar, and sun-synchronous orbits. The facility, in the south of Oman on the Arabian Sea, is at 18 degrees north latitude and faces open eastern waters that are ideal for launching rockets.

“This announcement is a landmark moment for Oman and for the global space community,” said H.H. Azzan Qais Al Said, CEO of NASCOM and Etlaq Spaceport. “By formalizing a fast and credible approval process, Oman is showing that it is ready to host the world’s most ambitious missions.”

Early partnerships include Spain’s PLD Space, which announced Etlaq as its second global base for the MIURA 5 launcher. This collaboration underscores Oman’s growing appeal as a responsive and cost-efficient alternative for a launch location.

Beyond launches, the new regulatory structure aims to nurture a broader national space economy—attracting investors, space suppliers, universities, and research institutions. Oman offers an integrated system that supports sustainable space activity. The directive places no limit on the number of launches per year for either the launch service provider or the spaceport, allowing the freedom to expand flight cadence as demand grows.

The new launch licensing framework directly addresses an international shortage in orbital access, with launch vehicles and their satellite customers increasingly facing longer waiting times to reach orbit. As global demand rises, Oman’s swift and transparent approach positions Etlaq Spaceport as a strategic launch location in the evolving New Space ecosystem.