Sultan Qaboos University has launched the Third International Conference on Unmanned Vehicle Systems – Oman 2026, held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al-Sunaidy, Adviser at the Diwan of the Royal Court, in the presence of His Highness Sayyid Dr. Fahd bin Al Julanda Al Said, the Vice-Chancellor. The opening was also attended by senior officers of the Sultan’s Armed Forces, alongside a distinguished gathering of academics, specialists, and interested stakeholders. Organised by the College of Engineering at SQU, the conference is being held from 9 to 11 February 2026.
In his opening address, Dr. Nabil bin Zahran Al-Rawahi, Dean of the College of Engineering, highlighted the expansion of the conference in its third edition to include interactive educational workshops focusing on key industrial applications. He also noted the inclusion of competitions designed for school and university students, aimed at developing their skills and preparing them to engage with emerging technologies in this field.
Dr. Al Rawahi further affirmed the College of Engineering’s ongoing efforts to continuously develop its academic programmes and research laboratories. The construction of the Advanced Engineering Technologies Complex stands as a testament to the College’s excellence in scientific research and modern technologies. The complex houses laboratories specialising in advanced materials, enhanced oil recovery techniques, carbon neutrality, satellites, and quantum computing.
Professor Hadj Bouroudcen, Chair of the Organising Committee, delivered the address of the Conference Committee, underscoring the significance of the conference at a time when the global market for unmanned aerial, ground, and marine vehicles is experiencing rapid growth due to the increasing demand for smarter and more efficient solutions. He explained that these technologies face prominent challenges, including enhancing security and surveillance, developing collision avoidance capabilities, improving reliable communication in complex environments, and increasing operational capacity and endurance.
Professor Bouroudcen added that the sector is expected to continue evolving as a result of rising civil and military investments, as well as the continuous development of sensing technologies and artificial intelligence to enhance autonomous navigation and improve decision-making in dynamic environments.
The conference is being held over three consecutive days across various university facilities, including conference halls, exhibition areas, and the laboratories of the College of Engineering at SQU. The programme features a wide range of scientific and applied activities that reflect the breadth of this vital field and its rapid advancement.
The conference programme begins with three specialised workshops addressing key themes in the development and application of unmanned systems. The first workshop focuses on the evolution of unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence, and sensing technologies, with particular emphasis on inspection applications in the oil and gas sector. The second workshop addresses robust motion control of autonomous underwater vehicles, while the third explores counter-drone systems, covering technologies, operations, and case studies.
The conference also features two keynote addresses. The first examines the evolving cybersecurity requirements in the era of autonomous systems and questions the feasibility of reaching Level 5 autonomy (full automation). The second keynote focuses on the design, control, and applications of bio-inspired aircraft.
In addition, the programme includes three invited lectures with local, regional, and international impact, addressing: the future of defence and emerging trends in military unmanned aerial vehicle technologies; the shift from importation to innovation in localising drone development in the Sultanate of Oman; and the development of artificial intelligence and drone capabilities at the Embedded and Connected Vision Systems Laboratory at the College of Engineering.
The conference also showcases ten industrial applications highlighting the use of unmanned vehicle systems within Omani industry. These applications focus on aerial robotics for inspection, monitoring, and environmental protection, as well as autonomous systems for safety, inspection, and operational processes. In addition, six parallel scientific sessions are being held to present peer-reviewed research papers aligned with the conference themes.
The conference is held under the technical sponsorship of IEEE in the Sultanate of Oman, with accepted papers that meet IEEE requirements published in the IEEE Xplore Digital Library.
On the sidelines of the conference, a series of nationwide competitions are being organised across the Sultanate of Oman. These include a Pipeline Robot Competition for college and university students, a Self-Driving Car Competition for students from public and private schools, and the Oman Competition for AI-Enhanced Drones, organised by the College of Engineering in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. These competitions aim to foster a spirit of competition and innovation among students, while developing their skills in programming, modelling, planning, and teamwork. A number of preparatory workshops and training programmes were previously conducted to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge.
In addition, the conference enjoys collaboration and financial support from several governmental and industrial institutions, reflecting the strong partnership between SQU and stakeholders concerned with the conference themes. Through its various activities, the organising committee seeks to strengthen and expand these partnerships in a manner that delivers mutual benefit and supports national development objectives.