ushering in a new chapter

The Sultanate of Oman will mark on Thursday its Glorious National Day, commemorating the Al Busaid State Foundation Day on November 20 each year. This historic occasion embodies the patriotic spirit of this blessed nation’s people as they advance with renewed determination to build their homeland under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.

The profound pride of the nation’s Monarch in the people of Oman reflects the deep unity between the Leader and his loyal citizens. This national cohesion represents a fundamental element in the success of achievements realised during this era of renewed Renaissance. Throughout history, the Omanis have stood united as an impregnable fortress, guided by enlightened faith.

The supreme commitment to developing education, higher education, scientific research, and innovation has been manifested in significant accomplishments aligned with Oman Vision 2040 priorities. During his visit to Sultan Faisal bin Turki School for Boys in the Wilayat of Al Amerat, His Majesty the Sultan emphasised the crucial importance of equipping students with knowledge in modern technology and integrating it into educational processes across schools destined to become future models. The total number of educators reached 66,379 male and female teachers, distributed across 1,303 schools. The number of administrative and technical staff in government schools stood at 11,183, comprising 4,420 males and 6,763 females. Regarding the number of teachers in special education schools, it totalled 241 male and female educators, with the aggregate count of administrative personnel in special education schools being 46 male and female administrators.

During this year (2025), 16 new school buildings were to be operationalised across 9 educational directorates. The construction of these schools has observed the highest standards of security and safety.

Oman’s education sector demonstrates positive development in academic and research infrastructure, as evidenced by the 2026 rankings from the British institution Quacquarelli Symonds. The QS World University Rankings 2026 features five Omani higher education institutions, with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) achieving remarkable progress by advancing 28 positions to secure 334th place globally.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Under the academic sector’s Performance-Based Institutional Funding Program, support has been extended to approximately 2,228 research projects between 2018 and 2024. The past year alone witnessed the funding of 475 research initiatives with a total allocation of approximately RO 2.4 million. The Strategic Research Program, designed to address specific challenges within government entities, has supported 74 research projects. Meanwhile, the industrial sector’s EJAAD Program has facilitated 61 research projects with a total investment of RO 2.5 million.

KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY

The Sultanate of Oman is strategically enhancing its national scientific publishing infrastructure and elevating the standards of its peer-reviewed journals, in direct alignment with its transition towards a knowledge-based economy. This systematic development of scientific research and academic publishing frameworks represents a fundamental pillar in building a knowledge-driven society and strengthening the nation’s competitive standing globally.

In the domain of development and social protection, the Sultanate of Oman persists in its efforts to build a comprehensive social care system. This system aims to provide social and economic support and empowerment to all segments of society, including the family, the elderly, persons with disabilities, women, children, and civil society organisations. The ultimate objective is to forge a society that is both economically and socially empowered through the introduction of a suite of new programmes and projects across various developmental sectors. These initiatives are designed to advance social work, support and empower the most vulnerable groups, establish effective social protection mechanisms, and strengthen family cohesion and social solidarity. This is in addition to activating community partnerships and enhancing resource efficiency to deliver high-quality social services.

SOCIAL PROTECTION

The social protection system in the Sultanate of Oman has undergone a comprehensive and qualitative transformation across all levels and trajectories. The Social Protection Law has redefined the very concept of protection to encompass all stages of life, from childhood to advanced age, establishing programmes that cover retirement, end-of-service benefits, maternity, disability, direct cash security for limited-income families, and savings.

Statistics released by the Social Protection Fund at the end of September 2025 indicate the participation of 92 active entities from the public sector and 29,370 from the private sector. The number of insured Omani workers surpassed 604,000 citizens, with over 121,000 active pensions disbursed. Regarding the sector for persons with disabilities, His Majesty the Sultan issued his lofty directives in September 2025 to establish a new sector at the level of an under-secretary within the structure of the Ministry of Social Development. This sector is tasked with overseeing all matters that would elevate the services provided to persons with disabilities. To formalise this, His Majesty the Sultan issued Royal Decree No 92/2025 in October 2025, promulgating the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This law embodies Oman’s commitment to preserving the dignity of persons with disabilities and guaranteeing their rights. Moreover, His Majesty issued his Royal orders in April 2025, approving RO 7 million to establish the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Care and Rehabilitation Centre and to study the needs of the governorates for such centres.

CHILD PROTECTION

A number of specialised rehabilitative and productive programmes and projects are being implemented. The Child Protection Guide and the National Guide for the Care of Children in Foster Families have been launched. Furthermore, childcare centres and youth homes provide an alternative family environment that offers comprehensive care encompassing living, educational, social, psychological, and health aspects. The number of children enrolled in the centre by the end of the first half of 2025 reached 83 children, consisting of 33 males and 50 females, while the number of those enrolled in youth homes reached 77 youths. Meanwhile, the home care programme for the elderly served 1,327 beneficiaries.

The Sultanate of Oman confers supreme priority upon the healthcare sector, with the noble objective of delivering comprehensive and multifaceted medical care to its citizens and residents, embracing prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and health promotion. A strategic direction enshrining health as a paramount priority within Oman Vision 2040 has been articulated, crystallised in the pursuit of “a pioneering health system governed by global standards.”

HEALTH SECTOR

The national report monitoring the indicators of Oman Vision 2040 for the health sector revealed conspicuous advancement in national indicators throughout 2024 and 2025. The Sultanate of Oman ascended to 55th position globally and 6th within the Middle East and North Africa in the Legatum Prosperity Index – Health pillar, representing an advancement of six ranks since 2019.

The inauguration of the National Health Policy constitutes a definitive road map for establishing an integrated and sustainable health system. In parallel, specialised initiatives dedicated to the enhancement of maternal and child health have diligently pursued the refinement of specialised services via the National Screening Program for Non-Communicable Diseases, the Diabetes Care Program, advanced fertility services, oncology care, cardiac care, and the combat of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases.

The Sultanate of Oman has further secured qualitative triumphs in the realm of organ transplantation, most eminent among them the National Centre’s successful implantation of an artificial heart, the indigenisation of organ transplant services, and the successful recommencement of corneal transplant operations at Al Nahdha Hospital. Present endeavours are focused upon the establishment of an eye bank, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency within a five-year horizon. The inaugural phase of the organ transplantation programme witnessed a pronounced increase in kidney, liver, and corneal transplant procedures, crowned by the performance of the first heart transplant for an Omani citizen within the Sultanate of Oman. A regulatory statute was also promulgated to ensure the protection of the rights of donors and recipients within this vital domain. — ONA

[ Oman’s education sector demonstrates positive development in academic and research infrastructure.]

Oman’s education sector demonstrates positive development in academic and research infrastructure.

[ The Sultanate of Oman has further secured qualitative triumphs in the realm of organ transplantation.]

The Sultanate of Oman has further secured qualitative triumphs in the realm of organ transplantation.

[ The national cohesion represents a fundamental element in the success of achievements realised during this era of renewed Renaissance.]

The national cohesion represents a fundamental element in the success of achievements realised during this era of renewed Renaissance.