The Tenth Five-Year Plan, the initial roadmap of Oman Vision 2040, has brought achievements beyond the goals set at its launch in January 2021. At that time, the world was grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, economies faced uncertainty, and supply chains were nearly paralysed. Yet, Oman, with God’s help, wise leadership, and the unity of its people, overcame these unprecedented challenges, steering the nation towards economic and health stability.
Key achievements include reducing public debt to safer levels and restoring the nation’s credit rating to “investment-worthy” according to Standard & Poor’s—a feat that seemed unreachable in 2021. The government has also prioritised sustainable solutions for job seekers, showing its commitment to the stability of citizens and future generations.
These years deserve thorough study to create models that can help us tackle future challenges. Oman Vision 2040 has shown resilience, adapting to crises and adverse conditions. But the critical question is: Can we fully rely on this flexibility as the world around us undergoes radical shifts?
Some may think that because the Vision overcame the hurdles of 2021 and 2022, it will also handle greater challenges in the future. However, this view is flawed. Since the Vision’s inception in 2019, the world and our region have experienced transformative political, economic, social, and cultural changes. These shifts demand we rethink the Vision's strategies, particularly as we prepare for future five-year plans. Strong economic policies remain vital, but they must also reflect the profound social and cultural changes shaping our future.
As we work to unveil the 11th Five-Year Plan in 2026, policymakers must consider recent global shifts, especially those after October 7, 2023. Political events such as the re-election of Donald Trump, bring new dynamics that require careful analysis to understand their impact on Oman.
The world has undoubtedly changed since October 7, reshaping ideologies and identities at both societal and individual levels. Our strategies must now align with these shifts, building robust, long-lasting changes rather than temporary solutions.
Given these changes, Oman needs to make 2025 a year to review Oman Vision 2040. While the Vision’s foundations may remain, we should reassess its implementation methods to reinforce national identity over other affiliations. We must strengthen a sense of belonging to our homeland, protect it from the tides of globalisation, and uphold its achievements since the pandemic and other global shifts, like the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The most urgent goal for the coming years is to build economic stability for the state and individuals. Oman needs an economy capable of creating jobs with fair wages and benefits, fostering a sense of security that will motivate everyone to contribute to the nation’s development. As societal and communal values are replaced by individualistic ideals, the importance of economic stability becomes even clearer. Without it, people may lose their connection to national values, weakening national loyalty.
The next phase presents significant challenges, requiring intense national efforts grounded in a deep understanding of global transformations, social media's influence, modern philosophies, and the consumer-driven culture promoted through global media.
We cannot draft plans for the next five years without considering these factors, nor can we succeed if we ignore them. Oman has the experience, historical context, and capable leadership to rise to the challenge. With the will and organised efforts focused solely on building Oman’s future, we can expect to celebrate another five years of overcoming historic challenges that have shaped the world.
The article translated by Badr al Dhafari. The original version of this article was published in Oman Arabic newspaper on November 10.
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