Oman is planning to launch five rockets from its developing spaceport this year – starting in April – with a fan zone to be opened in the coming months to allow the public to witness the series of landmark lift-offs.
The Etlaq spaceport, which has been in the works since 2023, is in southern Duqm and is set to have three launch complexes where vehicles of various sizes will blast off into the skies.
The announcement of the fan zone, which is expected to be introduced this summer and will be free of charge, was made at the Etlaq conference in Muscat on Thursday. The timeline of the launches for this year was also unveiled.
Zainab Alsalhi, business development manager for Etlaq, said that a registration portal for those interested in attending the launch will soon be made available on the company’s website and promoted on their social media platforms.
“I’m happy to introduce one of the best experiences at the launch event – the fan zone. Most of you have been dreaming of watching the moment of launch and that’s why we’ve created this opportunity,” she said.
It is not yet clear how far the fan zone will be from the launch site, but binoculars will be provided for an enhanced view. There will also be a live launch feed so the public can join the countdown to lift-off.
The ticket will be valid for the launch window in case lift-off is postponed because of weather or technical issues.
The site has already hosted its first launch in December, when an experimental vehicle lifted-off from the pad. It is capable of reaching 140km above sea level, however, it was not clear what altitude it flew to during this flight.
Th launch was part of the the Duqm-1 mission, and the upcoming ones will be the Unity-1 mission in late April, Duqm-2 is expected in late June, Duqm-3 in October, Ambition-3 in November, and Duqm-4 in December.
The spaceport is giving an opportunity to start-up launch companies to test their high-altitude and suborbital rockets, including the Kuwait Space Rockets organisation, which will launch the Ambition-3 vehicle 15km above sea level.
The multiple space launches and fan zone are part of Etlaq’s Genesis Programme, which was launched on Thursday as a stepping stone for the start of the spaceport's commercial operations in 2027.
“We believe such a heritage is a fundamental prerequisite to have before commercial spaceport operations in 2027,” said Azzan Al Said, chairman of the National Aerospace Services Company (Nascom) – the company overseeing the Etlaq project.
“The programme is designed to break down the absolute essential elements of planning and conducting rocket launches.
“To achieve this, from this year up until 2027, the programme will host as many launches as reasonably and safely as possible, with multiple launch companies operating suborbital and experimental launch vehicles.”
As the global space industry expands, more countries are developing spaceports to accommodate a growing demand for satellite launches, suborbital tourism and scientific missions.
In the UK, several new spaceports are under development, including Spaceport Cornwall, which has already hosted its first launch attempt, and upcoming vertical launch sites in Scotland, such as SaxaVord Spaceport and Sutherland Spaceport.
These facilities are positioning the UK as a key player in European small satellite launches.
Oman’s spaceport could similarly create new opportunities for neighbouring Arab nations looking to expand their presence in the space sector.
Mr Al Said said that the spaceport is being developed to meet US Federal Aviation Administration standards to attract international launch companies.
“The launcher can be by any company, as long as they are a suborbital or experimental launch company from a non-US sanctioned country, and that makes it easier for us to trust who we're doing business with, and also they'll be operating on the same safety standards that we are promoting,” he said.
While Oman will host traditional vertical launch pads, the UAE is looking to host horizontal ones. Radian Aerospace is developing a horizontal take-off and landing, single-stage, fully reusable spaceplane called Radian One. A prototype is being tested at a small airfield in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is looking to enter the space tourism market by hosting high-altitude balloon flights, with companies like Halo Space planning to offer near-space experiences from the kingdom.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
SPIDER-MAN%3A%20ACROSS%20THE%20SPIDER-VERSE
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Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Hales' batting career
Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94
ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171
T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
MATCH RESULT
Liverpool 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Liverpool: Salah (26'), Lovren (40'), Solanke (53'), Robertson (85')
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England's Ashes squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier
UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs
Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)
1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0
Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am
