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Observer
2 days ago
- Business
- Observer
First aviation simulation centre to launch in 2026
CONRAD PRABHU MUSCAT, AUG 14 InvestOman, the Sultanate's flagship investment promotion agency, has announced the finalization of agreements paving the way for the launch of Oman's first aviation simulation centre – another key building block in positioning the country as a regional aviation hub. The Evolve Flight Simulation Training Centre, developed by aviation training startup Evolve Flight Training Services (EFTS), will be established in Madinat Al Irfan – a new urban district in Muscat – to provide cutting-edge pilot training services. Unveiling the project, InvestOman said: 'The Sultanate of Oman is taking a strategic step in the field of aviation training with the launch of the Evolve Flight Simulation Training Centre — the first advanced facility of its kind in the country, with an investment of USD 25.3 million and support from both local and international partners.' 'This project comes in response to growing regional demand, with forecasts indicating that GCC countries will require over 2,500 pilots annually by 2040, alongside an 87% increase in demand for simulation-based training since 2022,' the agency stated in a post on Thursday. Covering an area of 4,000 m², the centre will feature a modern, three-bay simulator complex designed with eco-friendly principles — such as energy-efficient construction, green spaces, and circular water management. It will be the first centre in the region to receive LEED Platinum certification and operate entirely on solar power. Other design elements will include auditoriums, pilot lounges, cafeterias, and digitally enabled classroom and briefing zones — ensuring trainees benefit from both practical and academic support in a modern, tech-enabled setting. Separately, Evolve is also building a similar facility — but housing as many as eight simulators — at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) in Dubai World Central. Both centres will feature cutting-edge infrastructure and will house a sophisticated fleet of full-flight simulators, including the Airbus A320 NEO/CEO, the Boeing 737 MAX, and others, according to Evolve. Significantly, the new simulation centre in Muscat will complement Oman's expanding domestic aviation training infrastructure, which currently includes institutions such as the Oman Air Flight Training Centre and the Oman Aviation Academy. The latter, located at Sohar Airport, is Oman's premier pilot training institution and the first EASA-certified Approved Training Organization (ATO) in the region. It offers a full suite of pilot training programs, including the Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), Private Pilot Licence (PPL), and various other aviation-related courses. Its training fleet includes Diamond aircraft supported by Boeing 737 MAX simulators. The Evolve Flight Simulation Training Centre in Muscat is scheduled to open in June 2026.
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Future Fund Oman team courts Chinese investors
MUSCAT: A team of officials representing Future Fund Oman (FFO), an investment vehicle launched by Oman Investment Authority (OIA), recently toured a number of Chinese cities to explore potential manufacturing and industrial partnerships with leading players in China. During the visit, spanning five cities over multiple weeks, the Omani team interacted with executives of strategic businesses operating in the high-tech, semiconductor, electric vehicle, venture capital, and project finance sectors, according to Rashid al Hashmi, Senior Manager – Future Fund Oman. Al Hashmi, who led the visit, commented: 'Oman is open for serious industrial partnerships — and China's innovation powerhouses are listening. Over the past weeks, I had the privilege of leading Future Fund Oman's delegation across China and Hong Kong, engaging with some of the region's most strategic manufacturers, robotics pioneers, and sovereign partners,' he added in a post. The delegation's travel itinerary included 'deep-dive' tours of China Electronics Corporation (a $9.5 billion revenue leader in servers, semiconductors and AI), UB Robotics (a leading manufacturer of humanoid robots and smart service robots); Shenzhen Capital (China's top state-backed venture capital with assets of over $60 billion under management), and U-Power (an EV platform developer progressing toward a manufacturing hub). The tour also included a visit to the Export-Import Bank of China where the delegation conducted a strategic dialogue on project finance. Additionally, a high-level meeting was held with the Provisional Governor of Guangdong Province to explore industrial cooperation and capital mobility between Oman and the Greater Bay Area. 'Across every engagement, we reinforced FFO's role as a gateway to Oman's diversified industrial future — backed by Vision 2040, world-class infrastructure, and access to GCC, Africa, and US markets (via FTA),' Al Hashmi noted, adding that the Fund is now gearing up inbound delegations from China, which opens up the potential for R&D linkages, and capital-matching exercises. FFO was established in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance with a capital of $5.2 billion, allocated over five years from 2024 to 2028. Last November, FFO announced its first batch of approved investment projects in November with a combined value exceeding $2 billion. The projects include $1.6 billion committed by foreign investors and $571 million contributed by FFO. The approved projects span ten key sectors, including technology, manufacturing, tourism, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. In addition, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and startups will play a prominent role, with investments targeting food, health, financial technology, e-commerce, and more. CONRAD PRABHU 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( CONRAD PRABHU
