Oman leads region in digital transformation, AI and ICT development

MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has made substantial gains in digital transformation and technological innovation, with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) reporting strong progress across artificial intelligence (AI), e-government, skills development and ICT infrastructure during 2025. These efforts are elevating Oman’s standing in international digital indices and positioning the country as an emerging regional technology hub.
Oman advanced across several global performance benchmarks, including the UN ESCWA E-Government and Mobile Services Maturity Index, where it improved by 6 per cent in 2024. It also moved up 25 places to rank first in the Arab world and 50th globally on the 2025 Postal Development Index. Moreover, Oman secured first place in the West Asia region and ninth worldwide in open data readiness and won membership to the Postal Investment Council for 2025–2029. The country further topped regional rankings in the Digital Economy Explorer Index, leading in digital inclusion and gender equality. It achieved a perfect 100-point score for its technological innovation governance regime and 92.9 points for ICT sector legislation.
Significant digital transformation has taken place at government level. The unified government services portal was launched with 30 new integrated digital services. Digitisation of services reached 74 per cent by May 2025, while process simplification touched 96 per cent. A sign-language video library was introduced to support users with disabilities. Overall government digital transformation performance reached 80 per cent for 2021–2025.
AI development has become a national priority. The Ministry has launched the National Language Model for Generative AI — the first government-built specialised model in Oman — alongside the Oman Digital Triangle, an international project for green computing and AI data hosting. A dedicated AI startup zone, the Green AI Alliance and the AI Studio have been introduced to support growth in high-tech enterprises. By 2025, investments in AI projects reached RO 65 million, while the number of AI startups rose to 22.
National talent development remains central to digital advancement. The Makeen Initiative has trained more than 10,000 Omanis in advanced digital skills since 2022, with more than 1,300 trainees enrolled in 2025 alone. SAS for Digital Innovation continues to support SMEs and startups through incubation, capacity building and legal framework enhancement. Key initiatives such as the Oman Startup Platform, Jadara and Numu are enabling emerging technology companies to scale, connect with investors and access new market opportunities.
Oman’s expanding digital ecosystem and modern regulatory framework are laying the foundations for a competitive digital economy aligned with Oman Vision 2040. — ONA