MUSCAT, AUGUST 23
Oman is positioning itself as the “Switzerland of AI”, seeking to build a reputation for neutrality, political stability and a balanced approach to artificial intelligence as it develops an ecosystem spanning infrastructure, AI models and governance.
Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, said Oman was drawing on its longstanding tradition of neutrality and openness to develop an approach that takes lessons from different AI regulatory and development models around the world.
“We want to be the Switzerland of AI at all layers, starting from the infrastructure layer to the model layer and the governance layer”, Dr Al Shaithani said in a recent interview with the Regulating AI podcast at the AI for Good Summit in Geneva.
He said the United States was more market-driven, the European Union more user-centric, while China represented a different approach. Oman, he said, was seeking a hybrid model that incorporated the best lessons from each. “We are banking on this in the AI age to come up with a moderate and balanced approach towards AI”, he said.
A key pillar of this positioning is Oman’s ambition to become a hub for green AI infrastructure. Dr Al Shaithani highlighted the country’s strategic location, multiple submarine cable connections, political neutrality and abundance of renewable energy resources as competitive advantages for hosting AI data centres and high-performance computing infrastructure.
The Digital Triangle, comprising three digital hubs or availability zones, is among the flagship initiatives supporting this ambition. The hubs are being developed to accommodate green AI data centres and high-speed computing clusters, with readiness across technology, regulation, investment and workforce requirements.
Dr Al Shaithani said the project could place Oman on the global AI map, particularly at the compute layer, where the country believes it has distinctive advantages.
Oman is also seeking to develop the human capital required to support its AI ambitions. Through the national Makeen upskilling initiative, around 11,000 people have been trained over the past three years through more than 150 programmes covering AI, cloud computing, video game development, full-stack development and technology product management.
The initiative is now entering its second phase, reflecting the need for continuous reskilling as technology evolves rapidly, he said.
Governance represents another central element of Oman’s “Switzerland of AI” proposition. Dr Al Shaithani said Oman was seeking to encourage AI innovation while establishing safeguards to ensure its responsible use.
The Sultanate of Oman has published a Safe and Ethical AI Use Policy and updated existing legislation, including cybercrime and IT transaction laws, to address emerging AI-related issues.
“We want AI to flourish, but at the same time we are putting in place guidelines and guardrails to help the development of AI in a responsible manner”, he added.
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