Oman has formally joined the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led framework governing responsible behavior in outer space, marking a new step in international space cooperation as the United States and its partners pursue long-term lunar and deep-space exploration.
The signing took place in Muscat on Jan. 26, coinciding with the opening of the Middle East Space Conference, and was attended by Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Saeed Al-Maawali. With Oman’s accession, the Artemis Accords now count 61 signatory nations, according to NASA.
The Artemis Accords, introduced in 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, set out non-binding principles for civil space activities, including transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance to astronauts and the public release of scientific data. They are intended to reduce the risk of conflict as more countries and private actors operate on the Moon and beyond.
“Oman has joined the United States and our other partners in ensuring space exploration is conducted peacefully for generations to come. We are returning humans to the Moon and laying the foundation for future missions,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said, according to regional media reports.
Oman’s participation aligns the Gulf state with the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon as a stepping stone toward future missions to Mars. The program involves a series of crewed and uncrewed missions carried out in cooperation with international space agencies and commercial partners.
Al-Maawali said Oman’s decision reflects its commitment to responsible use of outer space and international cooperation. “By joining the Artemis Accords, Oman is participating in securing a safe future for outer space,” he said during the signing ceremony.
The move is also seen as supporting Oman’s broader ambitions to develop its science and technology sectors and deepen engagement in high-tech research. Participation in the Artemis framework is expected to provide access to collaborative opportunities, technical expertise and shared scientific knowledge.
NASA has said the Artemis Accords are designed to evolve as more nations sign on, while maintaining a core focus on building a sustainable and peaceful presence on the Moon, Mars and other destinations. The agency expects additional countries to join in the coming years as interest in space exploration continues to grow.
