By the end of 2024, I had been closely following developments in digital progress especially in the field of artificial intelligence in Oman, analysing its strides in this crucial area. I can confidently say that we have surpassed the expectations I held in 2023.
Oman’s digital path is clearly outlined in the draft of its national AI programme, supervised by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in collaboration with various government sectors involved in AI and digital transformation. As 2024 drew to a close and 2025 dawned, numerous digital achievements began to materialise.
Around two months ago, I attended a talk by Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT), who proudly highlighted accomplishments worthy of mention.
I will briefly mention some of them here as an invitation for Omani institutions and individuals to maintain and even increase digital engagement. Reviewing what we have achieved helps us identify the strengths we need in the current new year and share proposals we believe should be implemented without delay.
2024 had been remarkable for Oman’s digital scene. Early this December, Oman advanced five positions globally in the Government AI Readiness Index compared to the previous year, reaching 45th place according to the UK-based consulting firm Oxford Insights. In space-related endeavours, which connect closely to AI, Oman successfully launched its first satellite and conducted a test launch of its experimental rocket ‘Duqm-1’, putting the Sultanate of Oman among the first in the Middle East to send rockets into outer space.
At the close of 2024, and with support from the Ministry of Economy, the MoTCIT finalised a cooperation agreement with the World Economic Forum to establish the Fourth Industrial Revolution Centre in Oman. As the sixth centre of its kind in the Middle East and the twenty-second globally, it is scheduled to begin operations during the first quarter of 2025.
In terms of investment, the Oman Investment Authority acquired a stake in xAI, an AI-focused company owned by Elon Musk. This rising digital firm aims to build the smartest AI model worldwide. Recently, xAI announced the creation of a large-scale big-data centre in the US and launched its new model, ‘Gork-2’, which will compete with other generative AI models like ChatGPT. These promising ventures illuminate the path for Omani digital investment, helping develop both the local digital economy and Omani talent, whether directly or through subsidiary start-ups.
Alongside these tangible projects in 2024, Oman is preparing to strengthen its digital economy further.
Late the previous year, a workshop was held to refine policies for attracting foreign investment in Oman’s digital sector through the Digital Cooperation Organisation, in partnership with the MoTCIT, the World Economic Forum, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
It was not easy to enumerate all of Oman’s digital achievements last year, but these examples reflect starting points for broader developments in the current year. Growth indicators in the digital economy and Omani digital transformation projects confirm that we are moving along a carefully charted path. With global digital progress - especially in AI on the rise, and with our local, regional and international engagement, as well as our improved global ranking in AI, I anticipate an even greater leap this year. This may include expanding AI usage in government institutions, attracting more investment and global partnerships, and making further advances in space technology. Plans indicate three more rocket launches in the current year, and we may yet see results surpassing our current expectations.
To enhance this sector’s effectiveness, we must double efforts to develop national capabilities, both in theory and practice, across all digital domains. This should begin with school and university curricula, which need specialised courses that address the fundamentals of AI from logical and mathematical perspectives and incorporate advanced programming (such as Python), algorithm design and intelligent models.
Establishing these courses is as important as other core subjects like languages and sciences. I have seen a well-developed AI curriculum in a neighbouring country’s school system, distinguished by robust theoretical and practical content in polished Arabic, making AI and its sciences more accessible to Arab communities.
This call serves as a national partnership, complementing the significant efforts educational institutions undertake at every level to adapt to our fast-evolving digital environment.
Dr Muamar bin Ali Al Tobi
The writer is an academic and researcher
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