MUSCAT: Oman’s digital economy is emerging as a significant driver of economic growth and diversification, with its direct contribution reaching around RO 800 million in 2023, according to a new report issued by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT).
The report, titled “The Harvest of the Digital Economy in the Sultanate of Oman: From Establishment to Empowerment”, highlights progress achieved between 2021 and 2025 under the National Digital Economy Programme.
Launched in 2021, the programme aims to accelerate digital transformation across the economy and supports eight strategic areas, including government digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital industry, space technologies, e-commerce, financial technology and digital infrastructure.
MoTCIT oversees five of these initiatives, while the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Central Bank of Oman and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority supervise the remaining programmes.
Eng Said bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said the ministry is pursuing an ambitious vision to build a sustainable and advanced digital economy in line with the directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
He noted that efforts have focused on strengthening digital government services, empowering a digital society and supporting the digitalisation of businesses. These initiatives have helped Oman improve its standing in global indicators, particularly the E-Government Development Index and the Cybersecurity Readiness Index.
Among the key initiatives launched are the Omani Language Model (Ma’een) aimed at enhancing digital sovereignty, the Artificial Intelligence Studio, expanded 5G networks and improvements in national digital infrastructure.
Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, said the National Digital Economy Programme was designed as a comprehensive framework to support a knowledge-based economy built on advanced technology and innovation.
Progress under the programme includes the launch of a unified digital government portal, the Irtaqa programme to empower national talent in digital transformation and the Tajawub national platform for public suggestions and complaints.
During the past five years, 3,166 government services were streamlined, 2,277 permits and services digitised; and more than 29 million digital government transactions were completed annually. The national integration platform also facilitated the exchange of 2.26 billion data records, while more than 200 million electronic authentication requests were processed with a 94 per cent performance rate.
Artificial intelligence investments exceeded RO 79 million, supporting projects such as the National Generative AI Linguistic Model, the Oman Digital Triangle initiative and the development of a dedicated zone for AI startups. The ecosystem now includes around 22 AI-focused companies.
In human capital development, more than 11,000 Omanis were trained through the Makeen initiative, while Omanisation in technical and specialised IT roles reached about 69 per cent, representing 45.5 per cent of the total IT workforce.
The cybersecurity sector has also expanded, with around 8,000 individuals in Oman and 5,000 international beneficiaries participating in cybersecurity programmes. Three innovation centres have been established in academic institutions, while the Advanced Cybersecurity Academy has delivered nearly 3,000 specialised training opportunities for government employees.
Oman has also made early strides in the space sector, launching its first experimental rocket from the Duqm launch site in 2024 and signing an agreement to design and manufacture the first Omani satellite. The sector now includes 25 companies employing around 401 specialists.
In e-commerce, transaction volumes reached approximately RO 288 million in 2025, with more than 14,000 licences issued for online commercial activities and 313 digital stores registered on the Ma’roof Oman platform.
Digital infrastructure coverage has also expanded significantly. Mobile broadband now reaches about 99 per cent of the population, while high-speed fixed broadband covers 100 per cent of residential units through fibre optics, 5G networks or low-Earth orbit satellite services.
Looking ahead, the programme’s next phase (2026–2030) aims to expand digital transformation centres across Oman’s governorates, strengthen national cybersecurity companies, develop a local payment card system, enhance cloud computing infrastructure and increase the digital economy’s contribution to 10 per cent of GDP by 2040. — ONA
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