Oman has launched a digital economy programme targeting OMR 300 million in technology investment and 3,000 direct jobs annually as it shifts its focus from building digital government to transforming strategic economic sectors.
The second phase of the National Digital Economy Program, covering 2026–2030, aims to deliver an OMR 1.5 billion contribution to GDP by 2030. Announced on 22 October, it supports economic diversification under Oman Vision 2040.
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology said the digital economy accounted for 9% of GDP, citing a survey conducted this year with the National Centre for Statistics and Information.
The new phase prioritises digital adoption across economic sectors, including wider use of artificial intelligence, e-commerce and electronic payments. Small and medium-sized enterprises will be encouraged to adopt Digital Transformation to improve productivity and develop domestic technology industries.
A Strategic Intelligence Platform, launched with the World Economic Forum, will monitor emerging trends and provide data and knowledge to support policymaking.
Digital skills and Omani participation in technology employment remain central priorities. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, undersecretary for communications and information technology, said Omanisation in technology-related economic activities increased from 33% in 2022 to 46% in 2026.
In technology occupations, the proportion rose from 50% to 72%.
More than 5,000 technology jobs were created for Omanis over the past five years. Training initiatives developed more than 170 semiconductor specialists and 800 AI specialists, alongside a master’s programme in Digital Transformation and Innovation with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences.
The ministry also established a dedicated zone for AI start-ups and an AI studio that developed 50 intelligent products. It supported 10 Omani space start-ups, awarded government technology contracts to 251 SMEs and established 48 incubators and accelerators. Financing exceeded OMR 127 million.
Infrastructure plans include dedicated AI data centres with capacity of up to 500 megawatts. Oman already has 20 submarine cables, while high-speed mobile broadband reaches 99% of its population.
Data exchanged through the National Government Integration Platform increased by 391% between 2021 and 2025, underlining growing demand for connected public services.
Commercial activity also expanded. E-commerce reached OMR 288 million in 2025, compared with OMR 221 million in 2023, while cashless transactions increased by more than 700% between 2020 and 2025. Semiconductor investment totalled OMR 88 million.
Deals and projects announced at COMEX 2025 reached OMR 116 million, up 45% from 2024. Separately, 200 technology companies attending overseas exhibitions over three years signed agreements worth OMR 30 million.
Space developments included Earth observation satellites owned by Omani companies, work on the OmanSat communications satellite and two successful rocket test launches.
The shift places businesses at the centre of the next implementation period, with government seeking to translate infrastructure, skills and entrepreneurship programmes into wider economic activity and employment.
The national programme spans government Digital Transformation, AI, cybersecurity, space, digital industries, e-commerce, financial technology and infrastructure.
Its next phases will focus on consolidating domestic digital industries between 2031 and 2035, followed by strengthening exports and international competitiveness through 2040.
