Oman is doubling down on its technological sovereignty with a newly unveiled initiative by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT). Designed to span from 2026 to 2030, this ambitious program aims to weave digital infrastructure into the very fabric of every governorate, moving beyond centralized hubs to establish regional digital transformation centers tailored to local economic needs.
The strategy marks a significant pivot toward high-tech self-reliance. Key pillars include the development of a national predictive AI platform powered by large language models to assist in government decision-making, and a major push for local manufacturing of servers and cloud hardware to reduce dependence on global suppliers. Furthermore, the Sultanate is exploring a national payment card and a dedicated cloud environment to process satellite data for research and economic growth.
Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence
This new phase builds on a successful five-year foundation (2021–2025) that saw over 2,200 government services digitized and more than RO79mn invested in artificial intelligence. With the digital economy already contributing RO800mn to the national GDP as of 2023, Oman is firmly on track toward its “Vision 2040” goal of having the digital sector represent 10% of its total economy.
