Monday 05 / October / 2026
Muscat: The Civil Aviation Investment Forum reviewed investment opportunities in the sector, the enhancement of partnership between the public and private sectors, and investment opportunities related to land development and the commercial and logistical activities surrounding Muscat, Salalah and Sohar airports, as well as enhancing their role as integrated economic hubs. It also addressed opportunities related to free zones and airport-related logistics services, in support of the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy 2040 linked to Oman Vision 2040.
The forum was organised on Monday by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at its headquarters in Muscat, with the participation of a number of government entities, operators, investors and small and medium enterprises. It comes within the launch and readiness assurance phase related to the implementation stages of the National Aviation Strategy 2040.
It highlights the most prominent investment opportunities and the sector's development pathways, including airport cities, free zones, logistics, foreign investment, emerging technologies, advanced air mobility, as well as training, qualification and the building of national cadres.
The forum aims to attract new investments, raise awareness of investment opportunities, improve the investor experience, enhance integration among relevant entities, and highlight investment in emerging technologies and human resource development, thereby strengthening the aviation sector's contribution to economic diversification and supporting the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy 2040.
A number of agreements and memoranda of understanding were inked during the event. The Civil Aviation Authority signed a concession agreement with Oman Airports for the operation, management and development of Muscat International Airport, Salalah Airport and Sohar Airport for a period of (35) years. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Authority by Eng. Naif Ali Al Abri, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, and on behalf of the Company by Haitham Nasser Al Taie, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Oman Airports.
The agreement aims to manage the civil airports of the Sultanate of Oman in accordance with the best global practices in the management of air facilities and ground services, to ensure the highest levels of safety and security, and to transform the airports into integrated logistical and commercial hubs that support economic diversification and are consistent with Oman Vision 2040. It also aims to develop the traveler experience by raising capacity and improving the quality of services provided to passengers and airlines through modern solutions and technologies, and to empower and qualify national cadres and increase the Omanisation rate across various technical and administrative sectors at the airports.
It further aims to establish a contractual framework for regulating the management, operation and development of the airports, enhance their operational and investment efficiency, and elevate the quality of services provided in accordance with best practices and international standards.
The Civil Aviation Authority also signed a concession agreement with the Indonesian company GMF AeroAsia for the operation and management of aircraft maintenance facilities at Muscat International Airport for a period of 20 years.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the Authority by Eng. Naif Ali Al Abri, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, and on behalf of the Company by Andy Fahrrozi, Chief Executive Officer of GMF AeroAsia.
The agreement aims to provide heavy maintenance services and periodic inspection of aircraft fleets for national, regional and international airlines, and to transform Muscat International Airport into an integrated regional center for aviation services and maintenance, by leveraging the strategic location of the Sultanate of Oman, as well as transferring knowledge and advanced technologies in the field of airframe, engine and electronic systems maintenance, and creating specialized job opportunities for national cadres.
A cooperation agreement in the field of student training was also signed between Oman Aviation Academy and the Arab Academy for Aviation, for cooperation in training students of Oman Aviation Academy.
In addition, a memorandum of understanding was signed between GMF AeroAsia and Mac Aerospace International to develop business in the fields of aircraft, wheel and brake maintenance and training, thereby enhancing strategic cooperation between the two sides and supporting the development of these fields.
The forum includes a review of operation and foreign investment opportunities in the Omani airports system and investment models in emerging technologies and advanced air mobility (AAM), as well as efforts to redesign and improve the investor experience in the aviation sector, simplify procedures and enhance integration among relevant entities.
The forum also focuses on investment in human resources by reviewing models in training, qualification and national capacity building, in line with the sector's future needs and in support of the readiness of national competencies.
The forum featured a panel discussion entitled "Investment in the Civil Aviation Sector: Opportunities and Enablers," which addressed the investor's journey from discovering the opportunity to establishing and operating the project, and the role of capital, partnerships and national competencies in enabling investments in the sector.
The session addressed a number of themes, including: from opportunity to operation – the investor's journey; capital and partnership – who invests and how; and national competencies as an enabler of investment, along with a quick overview entitled "One Step 2030," which reviews the practical steps that can contribute to enhancing investment in the aviation sector.
