His Majesty’s directives to reinforce economic, social stability

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik issued several significant directives focusing on economic diversification, social development and job creation, aiming to secure a prosperous future for the Sultanate of Oman. These initiatives are central to the Oman Vision 2040, a comprehensive plan for economic and social development, which seeks to transition Oman from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified, knowledge-based one.
During a meeting of the Council of Ministers, His Majesty directed that the sum previously allocated to support programmes and pathways for employing job-seekers in the private sector — particularly the wage support initiative — be doubled to RO 100 million, in light of the substantial uptake of these initiatives and programmes by both the private sector and job-seekers.
This increase aims to further stimulate employment opportunities for Omani citizens within the private sector. The wage support initiative is a crucial component of Oman's strategy to address unemployment and enhance the competitiveness of its national workforce. The government has also emphasised strengthening the national employment platform ‘Tawteen’ by increasing registered companies and integrating relevant databases to better utilise data for job creation.
The doubling of the wage support initiative underscores the government's commitment to social development and job creation as integral parts of its economic reform agenda. This is further evidenced by the creation of a new undersecretary-level sector within the Ministry of Social Development to oversee initiatives for persons with disabilities, promoting their empowerment and inclusion. These measures collectively aim to reinforce economic and social stability and boost the national economy's competitiveness.
His Majesty also directed the creation of a new undersecretary-level sector within the Ministry of Social Development structure. This sector will be responsible for supervising all initiatives aimed at improving services for persons with disabilities, addressing sector-specific challenges, promoting their effective empowerment and inclusion to enhance their role in societal development, and facilitating educational access across all levels.
This initiative reflects a broader governmental strategy to foster a more inclusive society and ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to contribute to national development. The establishment of a dedicated sector at the under-secretary level signifies a high-level commitment and a structured approach to tackling the multifaceted challenges faced by persons with disabilities, ranging from accessibility to educational and employment opportunities.
During his meeting with the Council of Ministers, His Majesty also emphasised the importance of coordinated national efforts to achieve the goals of the National Digital Economy Program and its implementation initiatives.
This emphasis reflects a strategic vision to diversify Oman's economy, foster innovation and enhance global competitiveness through digital transformation. The programme aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies, develop digital infrastructure and cultivate a skilled workforce to drive sustainable economic growth.
His Majesty’s directives highlight the importance of synergy among various government entities, the private sector and academic institutions to ensure the successful execution of digital economy strategies.
Key initiatives under the programme include promoting e-governance, supporting digital entrepreneurship, expanding broadband connectivity, and investing in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The overarching goal is to position Oman as a leading digital economy in the region, capable of attracting foreign investment and creating new opportunities for its citizens.
Among the programme’s notable achievements is the launch of the unified national services portal, streamlining citizen and business access to government services. The Council also underscored the issuance of the Government Digital Transformation Regulation, which has accelerated the digitisation of public services, with 74 per cent of government services now fully digital.
Oman, under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, has embarked on a significant journey of transformation and progress. A central pillar of his vision has been economic growth and diversification, moving away from reliance on finite oil and gas reserves.