CEO TALK: A measured approach to leadership

MUSCAT, APRIL 20

As Oman accelerates its push toward a digitally enabled economy under Vision 2040, Ooredoo Oman is positioning itself at the forefront of this transformation. Leading the charge is CEO Saud al Riyami, whose strategic focus is firmly set on evolving the company from a traditional telecom operator into a full-spectrum digital infrastructure provider.

“Our number one priority is completing Ooredoo Oman’s transformation into a full-spectrum digital infrastructure company,” Al Riyami explains. This transition is anchored in three core pillars: expanding 5G coverage across both commercial and underserved areas, operationalising a landmark data centre and cable landing station in Salalah, and scaling the company’s fintech platform, walletii. The Salalah facility, notably the first of its kind in southern Oman to combine advanced data hosting with an international submarine cable landing point, represents both a technological and strategic milestone. “Each of these moves is designed to give Omani consumers and businesses access to digital services that genuinely change how they live and work,” he adds.

This transformation has been underpinned by a fundamental shift in how the company engages with its enterprise customers. Reflecting on a pivotal decision taken during his tenure as Acting CEO, Al Riyami highlights a move away from a transactional, product-driven approach to a more collaborative partnership model. “We stopped selling connectivity and started solving business problems,” he says. The shift required internal recalibration but ultimately strengthened relationships, improved customer retention, and positioned the company as a trusted partner for major ICT projects. “Good decisions in telecoms are often invisible when they work. I count that one as a success precisely because of how quietly it took hold,” he notes.

For Al Riyami, execution is the true differentiator between ambition and achievement. “Strategy without execution is just a presentation,” he remarks, underscoring the importance of disciplined implementation. At Ooredoo Oman, every strategic priority is translated into clear accountability — with defined ownership, measurable outcomes, and timelines — and tracked through structured quarterly reviews. Equally critical is fostering a culture of transparency. “I want to hear bad news first and good news later. The companies that execute well are not the ones with the best strategies; they are the ones with the most honest internal conversations.”

This focus on clarity extends to performance measurement. Rather than tracking an extensive list of metrics, Ooredoo Oman concentrates on a concise set of indicators that reflect operational reality. Network performance is assessed through 5G coverage quality and data throughput in key commercial zones, while customer experience is gauged through Net Promoter Scores and digital adoption rates. On the people front, Omanisation levels, internal promotions, and attrition in technical roles provide insight into talent health. Cybersecurity effectiveness is measured by response speed to incidents, while sustainability is linked to energy consumption per network site. “These are the numbers that tell the truth about where we are,” Al Riyami says.

Leadership and organisational culture are central to sustaining this momentum. Al Riyami places a premium on intellectual honesty, a quality he describes as the willingness to admit mistakes openly, alongside what he calls “constructive restlessness” — a drive to challenge the status quo. Equally important is the ability to develop others. “A leader who makes the people around them better is worth ten individual performers,” he observes. This philosophy has helped foster a strong internal culture, recognised at the 2025 Global Digital HR Transformation Forum, where Ooredoo Oman was named Workplace Culture Champion.

Balancing growth with resilience is another cornerstone of the company’s strategy. “Risk management and growth are not in tension; they are the same conversation,” Al Riyami explains. Investments in cybersecurity capabilities and regular stress testing of infrastructure underpin this approach, while the Salalah data centre also enhances network resilience by diversifying infrastructure and reducing single points of failure. “We grow fast, but we do not grow fragile,” he emphasises.

A defining feature of Ooredoo Oman’s strategy is its commitment to developing local talent and creating long-term value within the country. For Al Riyami, this is deeply personal. “Omanisation is not a target we chase at year-end. It is a design principle we embed at the start of every hiring and development cycle,” he states. As the first Omani CEO of the company, he sees his role as a signal to aspiring professionals that leadership pathways are open. Investments in initiatives such as the Ooredoo Academy, university partnerships, and technical certification programmes are aimed at building a talent pipeline aligned with national ambitions.

Sustainability is also firmly embedded in the company’s operational thinking. With telecommunications infrastructure being energy-intensive, improving efficiency is a key priority. Ooredoo Oman is investing in energy-efficient 5G technologies, with recent trials showing more than 30 per cent improvement in energy use per site. Beyond operational efficiency, the company is also focused on digital inclusion, ensuring connectivity reaches underserved communities. “A sustainable business creates value for the widest possible constituency, not just shareholders,” Al Riyami notes.

Looking ahead, Al Riyami’s advice to aspiring Omani professionals reflects the same ethos of growth through challenge and learning. “Be willing to be wrong loudly and early,” he says. “The people who never get it wrong are the ones who never try anything difficult.” He encourages young professionals to take on demanding roles, build meaningful networks, and commit to continuous learning — lessons drawn from his own journey, from Sultan Qaboos University to global institutions and, more importantly, from real-world experience.

As Ooredoo Oman continues to expand its digital footprint, its strategy — anchored in infrastructure, innovation, and human capital — positions it as a key enabler of Oman’s digital future.