Late January 2026 was an important moment for Oman’s growing space ecosystem. The second edition of Middle East Space Conference brought decision-makers, industry leaders, investors, and innovators to Muscat for three days of focused discussion and deal-making, hosted at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. (MTCIT)
For us at Astronomical Solutions Company LLC, it was more than a conference. It was the point where months of work inside the Oman Space Accelerator Program reached a public milestone, and where our submitted project, Dar Al-Falak, was recognized with second place. (Instagram)
This post is a fuller story of that week, why it matters, and what happens next.
A conference that signals intent, not just headlines
It is easy to dismiss conferences as “networking”. MESC 2026 felt different, because the intent was backed by visible national momentum and international participation. The conference was organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in cooperation with Novaspace, and it was held under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Dr. Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (MTCIT)
Across the program and side events, the direction was clear: Oman is not only discussing “space” as a concept. It is building the enabling environment where policy, talent, startups, and international partners can meet practical projects.
That matters to founders, investors, and customers for a simple reason: credibility compounds. When a country puts the right people in the room, repeatedly, around concrete initiatives, the ecosystem becomes easier to trust.
OSAP: the accelerator that turned ideas into investable narratives
Our OSAP journey was not “pitch practice”. It was a structured push to refine strategy, sharpen use cases, pressure-test business assumptions, and present something that could stand up in front of national stakeholders and industry professionals.
OSAP itself sits within a broader national effort to support space-related entrepreneurship, with implementation led by Ankaa Space and Technologies and international acceleration support from Exotopic. The program has been positioned publicly as an MTCIT-backed initiative designed to qualify and empower Omani startups in the space sector through a focused accelerator curriculum and ecosystem access. (Muscat Daily)
That structure matters because “space” can be vague if you let it stay vague. OSAP encouraged founders to be specific: what problem, for whom, why now, and why you.
Dar Al Falak wins second place: why that recognition matters
During MESC, the OSAP winners were announced, and Dar Al Falak received second place. (Instagram)
Awards are not the goal. Execution is the goal. But recognition in the right setting matters, especially in a sector where trust and long timelines are the norm.
For current and prospective Dar Al Falak clients, this milestone is meaningful for three reasons:
- External validation
The project was evaluated alongside other serious initiatives in an accelerator designed to build investable, scalable ventures. - Signal of readiness
Getting to the finish line of a national accelerator and placing second reflects progress in planning, positioning, and delivery capability. - Credibility with stakeholders
When a project is recognized in a public forum hosted by national institutions, it becomes easier for partners, suppliers, and investors to engage confidently.
We are grateful to the program organizers, mentors, and partners involved in making OSAP a serious platform for founders, and we are proud that a project grounded in astronomy infrastructure and scientific tourism can stand alongside other space-economy initiatives.
Being selected for the UK trade mission: an OSAP outcome with real weight
One of the most practical outputs of OSAP is access. Access to conversations, facilities, and markets that accelerate learning and shorten the path to partnerships.
As part of OSAP’s next-step pathway, we were also selected as one of three companies for a UK-facing trade mission component. Public posts linked to the OSAP trade mission highlight structured visits and engagement with major industry players, including an organized visit to Airbus as part of the mission activities. (Instagram)
This matters for Dar Al Falak because our project sits at the intersection of infrastructure, international customers, and long-term operations. The more we learn from mature ecosystems, the better we design what we are building in Oman.
It also matters because it positions Oman’s startups in the right direction: not only building locally, but connecting globally in a way that brings capability, partnerships, and commercial realism back home.
Project progress: agreement reached on location with the Environment Authority
Parallel to the OSAP milestone, we have also reached agreement with the Environment Authority on the project location, and a draft agreement is in place. Once the review process is completed, we will move to formalize it through the appropriate instrument.
For an observatory hosting campus, the site is not a detail. It is the foundation of everything:
- sky quality and horizon access
- operational stability
- environmental responsibility
- long-term sustainability of visitor experience and scientific output
This milestone allows us to proceed with greater confidence into site planning, technical layout, and the next stages of development.
Next stop: European AstroFest 2026 (Stand 29)
With OSAP completed and the project progressing on the ground, our next major public-facing milestone is the UK.
We will be traveling to the European AstroFest to promote the observatory hosting facility and meet the astronomy community face to face. AstroFest has long been a key meeting point for serious amateur astronomers, astrophotographers, and industry brands across the UK and Europe, and it is exactly the kind of place where the right conversations happen early. (Instagram)
If you are attending, we will be at Stand 29. Please come say hello, whether you want to discuss hosting needs, ask technical questions, explore collaboration, or simply put a face to a name.
What this means for our pre-registered clients
If you have pre-registered your interest in Dar Al Falak, here is the practical summary of where things stand:
- The project has achieved a credibility milestone by placing second in OSAP, announced during MESC. (Instagram)
- We have reached alignment with the Environment Authority on location, with a draft agreement in progress toward formalization.
- We are continuing international engagement through OSAP-linked market exposure, including the UK-facing trade mission element. (Instagram)
- We are preparing to meet the community at European AstroFest 2026, Stand 29. (Instagram)
If you are coming to AstroFest, I would genuinely like to meet you. If you are not, you can still reach out any time with questions and I will respond directly.
A final note
Dar Al Falak is ambitious in what it enables, but it is grounded in execution. The last few weeks gave us two things every serious project needs: stronger validation and clearer forward momentum.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, especially those who pre-registered early and have stayed engaged. The next phase is about delivering, step by step, and doing it in a way that earns long-term trust.
