MUSCAT, JAN 22
The volume of investments inflows into Oman’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector amounted to RO 60 million in 2024, according to Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.
Speaking at the Ministry’s annual media gathering, Al Maawali reviewed the Ministry’s achievements in the field in 2024. Notable was the launch of the National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies - an executive programme under the Vision 2040’s digital economy strategy.
Furthermore, the Minster unveiled the signing of agreement with the World Economic Forum to establish a Fourth Industrial Revolution Center in Oman, making it the 22nd globally and the 6th of its kind in the region.
Additionally, an AI Ethics Research Chair was inaugurated at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in collaboration with the ministry and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
The Minister unveiled various plans for the upcoming year, including the development of Oman's first AI language model. “For 2025, there are major targets, including the first phase of developing a large-scale Omani language model. This is being done in collaboration with the Oman Investment Authority, represented by ITHCA leading this initiative,” said Al Maawali.
Additionally, he announced the establishment of the AI Studio in collaboration with ITHCA. “The AI studio will be government-funded and accessible to everyone. It will help government entities, private companies, and even individuals to work with developers and understand how AI can serve them. It might even help develop new or existing solutions for their institutions,” he said.
Furthermore, the Minister announced the launch of an open data platform this year. “The launch of the National Open Data Platform is another crucial step, as AI relies heavily on data. The more data is available, the greater the opportunity to showcase Oman’s efforts and achievements in both the government and private sectors. This year, there will be a significant focus on data,” Al Maawali added.
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