Oman Launches Phase Two of 'Sky Bridge' Drone Medical Delivery Initiative to Al Halaniyat Islands

Oman has launched the second phase of its 'Sky Bridge' initiative, using unmanned aerial vehicles to transport medical supplies and equipment to the Al Halaniyat Islands from Dhofar Governorate. The launch took place on Wednesday under the auspices of HH Sayyid Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar, with officials and representatives of government entities and private sector institutions in attendance.

The mission is being carried out using the 'Sahm' (Arrow) drone, capable of carrying approximately 150 kg of medical supplies and equipment, travelling from Salalah to the Al Halaniyat Islands at speeds exceeding 120 km/h and altitudes of up to 2,000 metres. The mission is executed by the Ibn Firnas Center for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, with an Omani team overseeing planning, load handling, drone operation, flight monitoring and safety management, having completed training in navigation, load management, aviation system interaction and emergency response protocols.

The initiative forms part of the Gulf Green Mobility Forum, organised by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, under supervision of the Civil Aviation Authority and in coordination with the Air Navigation Department of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Aviation Safety Department of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Regulation.

In the first phase, an aerial shipment of medicines and medical supplies weighing 100 kg was dispatched from the Military Technical College to Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, covering nearly 100 km, with the drone, fully assembled in Oman, demonstrating its capability to navigate mountainous terrain. The initiative aims to test drone-based air cargo technologies and assess their potential for supplying remote and hard-to-reach areas, in alignment with Oman Vision 2040 goals of supporting innovation and developing national capacities in technology-based sectors.