A rocket takes off from the spaceport in French Guiana, where the European Space Agency launches its satellites. AFP
A rocket takes off from the spaceport in French Guiana, where the European Space Agency launches its satellites. AFP
A rocket takes off from the spaceport in French Guiana, where the European Space Agency launches its satellites. AFP
A rocket takes off from the spaceport in French Guiana, where the European Space Agency launches its satellites. AFP

Omani spaceport aims to launch rockets by 2030


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

Omani officials have laid out plans for the development of the Middle East's first spaceport, which they hope will be operational by 2030.

The commercial spaceport, called Etlaq, is designed to host all sizes of launch vehicles in the port town of Duqm, and would meet US Federal Aviation Administration standards to attract international launch companies.

The National Aerospace Services Company (Nascom), which is overseeing the spaceport, unveiled its plans at the Middle East Space Conference in Muscat, more than a year after initially announcing the project.

Nascom chairman Azzan Al Said told The National that the Etlaq Space Launch Complex was in the planning phase and development would start by 2025, with the spaceport set to become fully operational by 2030.

“The plan is for a large spaceport that will be able to accommodate all sizes of launch vehicles from micro all the way up to large orbital and suborbital,” said Mr Al Said.

“It will comprise of three launch complexes, one which supports medium to large [rockets], another one that is small to medium, and one micro.”

Lifting off from Etlaq spaceport

Companies such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have considered the Middle East, especially the UAE, to launch their space tourism flights.

But nothing has materialised so far, with reports that US regulations – specifically the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) – restrict American companies from exporting certain technology.

A rendering of the Etlaq Space Launch Complex in Oman. Development is planned to start by 2025. Image: Nascom
A rendering of the Etlaq Space Launch Complex in Oman. Development is planned to start by 2025. Image: Nascom

Mr Al Said that Nascom would work towards “removing that barrier” once it starts getting interest from launch companies.

“There are things such as ITAR and safeguard agreements which would have to be put in place between Oman and the United States for them to operate here,” he said.

“It's a regulatory barrier but it's one that's easy to open up discussion on once we actually get interest.”

Ideal location for rocket launches

The port’s equatorial positioning makes it an ideal spot for launches, as the rocket can take advantage of the Earth’s rotational speeds.

“Oman has a unique offering in terms of the inclination and the proximity to the equator,” said Mr Al Said.

The spaceport's location in Duqm, close to the ocean, makes it safer for launches, according to Nascom. Photo: Port of Duqm
The spaceport's location in Duqm, close to the ocean, makes it safer for launches, according to Nascom. Photo: Port of Duqm

“The only other port closer to the equator is the one in French Guiana, but we don't see them as direct competitors because those ones are in completely different hemispheres.

“The other reason that makes Oman attractive for space launches is that [to] the east is the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

"Having that downrange clearance makes it much more favourable and safer for launches to take place without putting people in harm's way.”

Boost for region's space ambitions

The UK's Launch Services Limited was contracted by Nascom last year to develop engineering designs for the spaceport.

Andy Bradford, Launch Services Limited chief executive, told The National that the addition of a spaceport would boost the region's space economy.

“Having a regional spaceport and space launch capabilities is a good thing, and most regions that are developing space economies are looking at that the same way the UK did it,” he said.

“But if it's in the right place and it's attractive, you can attract international business, which is also what they want to do.

“The actual geographical location is really good for putting things into space because it's coastal and you can launch in a number of different directions, which means you can go into a number of different orbits, all of which have different commercial applications.”

The US and Russia have the world's oldest spaceports, dating back to the 1950s.

Companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are using commercial spaceports in the US to launch tourists, astronauts and payloads into space.

China is also emerging as a space power, with several operational spaceports.

The European Space Agency currently uses a spaceport in French Guiana to launch its satellites.

There is also an FAA-licensed spaceport in New Zealand that US company Rocket Lab operates for private orbital launches.

The Indian Space Agency uses a space pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh for its rocket launches.

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg

Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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Countries recognising Palestine

France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra

 

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Company Profile

Company name: NutriCal

Started: 2019

Founder: Soniya Ashar

Based: Dubai

Industry: Food Technology

Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount

Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia

Total Clients: Over 50

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

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The Lowdown

Us

Director: Jordan Peele

Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseqph, Evan Alex and Elisabeth Moss

Rating: 4/5

PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

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The Breadwinner

Director: Nora Twomey

Starring: Saara Chaudry,  Soma Chhaya,  Laara Sadiq 

Three stars

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Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest

Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.

Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.

Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.

Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.

Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.

Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

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Baby Driver

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Lily James

Three and a half stars

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It's up to you to go green

Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.

“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”

When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.

He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.

“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.

One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.  

The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.

Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.

But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”

Updated: January 10, 2024, 9:05 AM