Business France and the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), supported by the Embassy of France to the Sultanate of Oman, hosted the inaugural French Space Days Oman at the JW Marriott Hotel Muscat. The event brought together 15 French companies and key Omani space sector representatives to foster industrial partnerships and business development aligned with Oman Vision 2040.
Following a previous event in Abu Dhabi, this initiative extended France’s strategic space engagement within the Gulf region, supporting Oman’s focus on economic diversification, digital transformation, and space-based technologies. The participating French delegation presented expertise across satellite systems, Earth observation, launch systems, telecommunications, orbital operations, and downstream data services. Companies involved included CT Engineering Group, Exail, Infinite Orbits, Orus Space, Look Up Space, Coros Space, SpaceDreamS, Unseenlabs, Safran Space, Mecano ID, Cailabs, Satinox, Skynopy, Ride!, and U-Space.
The morning sessions opened with remarks from H.E. Nabil Hajlaoui, Ambassador of France to Oman; Dr. Saoud Al Shoaili, Head of the National Space Program at Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT); and Christelle Astorg-Lépine, Space Attaché at the French Embassy and CNES representative. The agenda featured thematic presentations from MTCIT, Etlaq Spaceport, and MBSAT, alongside corporate pitch presentations and eight structured rounds of B2B meetings.
Participants later visited OmanSat to evaluate the Sultanate’s operational infrastructure and strategic ambitions. The day concluded with an executive networking reception at the French Residence.
Key Stakeholder Statements
H.E. Nabil Hajlaoui noted that space cooperation was established as a strategic priority during His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s state visit to Paris, emphasizing that the presence of CNES and 15 French aerospace enterprises marks the transition into operational implementation.
Christelle Astorg-Lépine highlighted the alignment between France and Oman in deploying space technology for economic diversification, noting that the initiative serves as a direct bridge between the two commercial ecosystems.
Dr. Saoud Al Shoaili emphasized that French industrial expertise offers strong potential for long-term bilateral partnerships focused on technology transfer, capability development, and localizing knowledge to support Oman’s national space sector.
Institutional Overview
Business France is the national agency responsible for the international development of the French economy, fostering export growth for French businesses and facilitating foreign investment in France. Operating with over 1,400 personnel across 53 countries, Business France supported foreign investment and export initiatives that generated over €2.5 billion in additional export revenues for French midsize companies and SMEs in 2025.
