Sentinel: Oman’s AI breakthrough goes global

London has spent nearly seven decades opening its doors each summer to some of the world’s brightest young scientific minds. This year, 10 students from Oman walked through those doors with a simple ambition: to prove that innovation knows no borders. They walked out with a global accolade to match it.

Ayah bint Hamid al Kendi’s artificial intelligence project, ‘Project Sentinel’, was ranked among the 13 best projects out of 738 entries submitted from around the world at the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) - a result that placed a young Omani innovator’s work on a genuinely global stage, alongside some of the sharpest scientific talent of her generation.
The project uses AI to detect money laundering and other financial crimes, analysing vast amounts of financial data, identifying suspicious patterns, and flagging potential risks faster than conventional systems can manage.

“The selection of ‘Project Sentinel’ among the best globally attests to the ability of Omani innovators to provide impactful technological solutions in critical fields such as financial security and fintech,” Al Kendi said. She described the recognition as a reflection of the scientific ambition of young Omanis and their growing role in developing technology-driven solutions in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

Al Kendi was among ten Omani delegates sent to the forum by the Research and Innovation Authority (RIA), following a national selection process that sifted through 738 STEM projects from across the country. Over the two weeks that followed, she presented Sentinel at the forum’s Science Bazaar before being selected as one of just 13 projects worldwide invited to deliver a special three-minute pitch presentation - a rare distinction in a field of hundreds.

“Representing Oman at LIYSF was a defining experience,” she said. “Presenting my AI research to an international audience and meeting our Ambassador to the UK reaffirmed why I want to build in this space long-term. I’m proud to carry Oman’s name into rooms like these, and I hope more Omani students get this chance.”

Al Kendi extended her thanks to Dr Salah al Zadjali and the Research and Innovation Authority, alongside the Military Technological College, for the opportunity to take part.
But for the young Omani participants, LIYSF was never just about rankings. Founded in 1959 in the aftermath of the Second World War, the forum was built on the idea that young people could be brought together through science to foster international understanding. Now in its 67th edition, it has welcomed more than 24,500 alumni over the decades. This year’s gathering drew around 480 young scientists from 90 countries and territories for two weeks of lectures, laboratory visits, scientific discussions and cultural exchange.

Participants toured some of Britain’s leading academic institutions, including the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and Imperial College London, attending lectures and exploring developments across a wide range of scientific disciplines. For Oman’s delegates, the exposure offered a rare chance to exchange ideas with peers from different countries and consider how their own work might feed into wider scientific challenges.
“The forum allowed me to learn from others, share my own knowledge, and truly apply the idea of ‘benefiting and being benefited’,” said fellow Omani delegate Amna, who added that the scientific visits had broadened her perspective and would shape her future studies.

For Mohammad al Shihi, founder of cybersecurity venture SynapseCyber, the forum reinforced his belief in the potential of Omani innovators. “It was an honour to represent Oman at LIYSF and to be part of an international scientific environment that brought together young people, researchers, and innovators from different countries,” he said. “The experience strengthened my belief that young Omani innovators can contribute to global scientific and technological progress.”

LIYSF Director Richard Myhill said Omani participants had consistently impressed organisers - not just with their academic ability, but with their enthusiasm and curiosity. The delegation also brought a taste of home to the forum: Richard recalled being invited on stage during the event’s ‘Traditions of Home’ evening, where an Omani participant tied a traditional massar around his head.

The LIYSF is a 14-day residential STEM programme for students aged 16 to 21, hosted at Imperial College London, combining lectures by leading scientists, including Nobel laureates, with laboratory visits and cultural activities. For Oman’s students, it offered something beyond prestige: proof that the country’s next generation of innovators is ready to take its place in the world’s scientific conversation.