Oman’s youth lead the way through innovation

A nation that is home to a diverse population, Oman has demonstrated that economic vitality and innovation can be cultivated from within.

The country’s thriving ecosystem of homegrown businesses, from food and beverage ventures to tech-driven transportation solutions, is a testament to the strength of local entrepreneurship and the vision of a government that believes in its youth. Take, for example, the transformation of the public transportation sector. While Uber revolutionised the global taxi industry with its app-based model, Oman didn’t merely adopt the concept — it localised it. Omani start-ups have embraced the Uber model and tailored it to the country’s unique needs, offering competitive pricing and enhanced safety while redefining the way people move around. These companies are not just surviving — they are flourishing. This entrepreneurial spirit is not confined to transportation.

Omani-run cafes, restaurants and boutiques are increasingly competing with, and in some cases outperforming, their international counterparts. This success is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate and sustained support from the government, which has recognised the immense potential of its youth — nearly 536,000 strong in the 18 to 29 age group, representing 18 per cent of the population. At the heart of this transformation is Vision 2040, a national blueprint that places young people at the centre of Oman’s development goals.

Oman Vision 2040 emphasises education, scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship as the pillars of a modern, diversified economy. It is a vision that sees youth not as passive beneficiaries of progress, but as active architects of the nation’s future. To this end, Oman has launched a series of initiatives aimed at promoting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those rooted in invention, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

Training programmes and empowerment initiatives are equipping young Omanis with the skills and confidence they need to seize emerging opportunities and create new ones. HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, praised the dedication, awareness and sense of responsibility demonstrated by Oman’s youth. His words reflect a broader national ethos — one that sees young people not as a challenge to be managed, but as a resource to be unleashed.

Under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Oman has embraced what it calls the Renewed Renaissance — a period of revitalisation driven by the energy and creativity of its youth. In his address to the nation, His Majesty underscored the importance of aligning employment systems with the evolving needs of the economy and society. He called on state institutions to revise their approaches and ensure that education and training are in sync with the aspirations of young Omanis. One of the most significant tools in this effort is the Omani Youth Development Index. Designed to track progress at both the national and governorate levels, the index provides a data-driven framework for understanding the factors that influence youth development. It enables policymakers to identify areas of success, prioritise investment and monitor outcomes over time.

By aggregating data and presenting it in a clear, actionable format, the index helps ensure that policies are grounded in evidence and responsive to real-world needs. In a world where economic success is too often equated with the presence of foreign brands, Oman is charting a different course — one that values local innovation, empowers its youth and builds prosperity from the inside out. The country’s experience offers a compelling lesson: true development is not about mimicking others, but about unlocking the potential within. Oman’s youth are not waiting for the future — they are building it.