Drone industry Oman took center stage with the launch of the inaugural Firnas Summit at St. Regis Al Mouj. The event, under the patronage of Eng. Hamad bin Ali Al Nazwani, gathered experts from government, private, and military sectors. Organised by the Ibn Firnas Drone Center, the summit focused on building Oman as a regional hub for drone technology.
The summit aimed to highlight the economic potential of modern drone applications. It also sought to empower start-ups to invest in promising technologies. This event will now become an annual platform, bringing innovators and decision-makers together to showcase breakthroughs and assess progress.
Notably, the summit featured the Middle East debut of DJI’s new Matrice 400 drone. Ibn Firnas Drone Center, the official and exclusive DJI agent in Oman, hosted a live demonstration. Attendees saw its capabilities in 3D mapping, aerial surveying, and applications across agriculture, energy, utilities, and urban planning.
The Ibn Firnas Drone Center, Oman’s first dedicated drone hub, has completed more than 200 projects nationwide. It has also supplied over 1,000 drones locally and logged more than 7,000 flight hours. Beyond equipment, the centre provides training, maintenance, industrial solutions, and anti-drone technologies. Its Firnas Academy, licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority, trains professional pilots for both civilian and military use.
During the summit, experts presented technical papers on practical drone applications. These included water and wastewater management, telecommunications, electricity, and urban development. The event also aligned with Oman Vision 2040 goals by promoting innovation-driven sectors like AI, digital transformation, and smart cities.
International guests added prestige, with judges, coaches, and senior officials from global drone associations in attendance. Industry leaders discussed how drones can enhance efficiency, cut costs, and accelerate service delivery, boosting quality of life in smart cities.
Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Harthy, CEO of Ibn Firnas Drone Center, described the summit as a turning point in creating an integrated drone ecosystem. Ferdinand Ma, DJI’s regional partnerships manager, said the Oman launch reflected confidence in the country’s market potential.
In conclusion, the Firnas Summit reinforced Oman’s ambition to lead in drone innovation. By combining technology, training, and international partnerships, drone industry Oman is poised for rapid growth and global recognition.
