The Sultanate of Oman celebrated its 54th National Day today, with joy resonating across schools, universities, and workplaces, as the nation’s youth embrace the tricolours — red, green and white.
Marwa al Bahri, a young advocate of Omani traditions, shared her pride: “I love representing Oman in traditional attire for occasions like this. Celebrating National Day means honouring every part of Oman, from Musandam to Dhofar, alongside all who call Oman home. Red, green, and white are part of my identity, and I carry this pride wherever I go.”
Oman’s youth form the backbone of its future, with 60 per cent of the population under 29, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). By 2030, around 40,000 young people aged 15–24 are expected to join the labour market annually, Unicef reports.
Guided by Vision 2040, the government, in collaboration with Unicef and UNFPA, is prioritising education, skills, employment, health, and youth engagement. This commitment has propelled Oman to 33rd place in the 2023 Global Youth Development Index, a leap from 52nd in 2020.
Higher education in Oman thrives with government and private institutions enrolling thousands, including students like Tasneem al Mufarji and Mohammed Ait Azeroual, who are readying themselves to address challenges in sustainability, energy, and water — key to building Oman’s future.
Oman’s commitment to its youth is further highlighted by the launch of youth centres across the country. Equipped with cutting-edge facilities such as drone labs, 3D printing labs, virtual reality hubs, and business incubators, these centres aim to nurture talent, foster creativity, and empower young Omanis.
On October 26th, each year, Omani Youth Day is celebrated, and this year saw the launch of youth centres in various governorates by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MoCSY), ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all the youth around the country.
The objective of the youth centres is to discover, develop, and groom the talent of the young members of society and encourage creativity.
There are studios that youth can utilise for those keen on photography or videography, art and sound, a drone lab, a 3D printing lab, a library, virtual reality, multipurpose training halls, co-working spaces, and a cafe. In addition to all these facilities, the Youth Centre also has a business incubator in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA).
As the nation celebrates, the youth of Oman shine as torchbearers of a sustainable and prosperous future.
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