Oman Investment Authority Backed PLD Space
The Omani sovereign wealth fund has invested in the Spanish aerospace firm to foster international space cooperation.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Space
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The Oman Investment Authority has secured a stake in Spanish launch provider PLD Space through a new private equity fund. This strategic investment also involves a memorandum of understanding to explore launching the Miura 5 rocket from the port city of Duqm.
Why it matters
The partnership aims to diversify Oman's investment portfolio while facilitating the transfer of aerospace knowledge and capital to the region. By supporting the development of the Miura 5, Oman hopes to position itself as a strategic hub for global satellite launch operations.
The Spanish-Omani Private Equity Fund II holds OMR45.6 million in capital, with both the Oman Investment Authority and COFIDES contributing OMR22.4 million each. The initiative follows the firm's successful rocket launch in 2023.
The players
PLD Space
This Spanish aerospace company specializes in the design, manufacture, and operation of launch vehicles for orbital transport.
Oman Investment Authority
This entity serves as the sovereign wealth fund of the Sultanate of Oman and manages the nation's diverse international investment portfolio.
COFIDES
This is a Spanish state-owned company that provides financial support for international investments made by Spanish businesses.
The details
Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Elche, PLD Space designs and operates vehicles capable of transporting small satellites to low Earth orbit. The company is currently scaling its technical infrastructure to eventually support larger payloads and human spaceflight missions.
Timeline
PLD Space was founded in 2011.
The initial Omani-Spanish Private Equity Fund was established in 2018.
PLD Space successfully launched a rocket in 2023.
Spanish-Omani Private Equity Fund II was formed in December 2023.
The memorandum of understanding with Etlaq was signed on 20 February 2025.
Deeper Dive
This venture follows a pattern established by the European Space Agency's launch infrastructure standards for cross-border aerospace development. It marks a significant effort to bridge the technological gap between European private space firms and emerging aerospace hubs in the Middle East.
The development of the Miura 5 rocket could eventually lower the cost of deploying small satellites, potentially enabling better global connectivity and cheaper orbital data services. For the industry, this signals a growing move toward decentralizing launch sites beyond traditional regions.
The takeaway
This investment highlights the increasing role of sovereign wealth funds in funding commercial space exploration and infrastructure. Readers should monitor how these partnerships influence future access to satellite services as launch markets become more internationally integrated.
Further reading
Explore the latest developments in global aerospace programs on our Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times of Oman.
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