Muscat, the capital of Oman, is witnessing an unprecedented technological boom in 2026, transforming from a consumer of technology into a producer and exporter, with the launch of major projects including the country’s first dedicated artificial intelligence zone, national language models, and digital transformation centers across all governorates of the Sultanate.
The First Artificial Intelligence Zone in Muscat
In breaking news released on 15 March 2026, the Sultanate of Oman announced a strategic partnership with Egypt’s Prime Holding Group to launch the first specialized Artificial Intelligence Zone in Muscat.
The project was unveiled on the sidelines of the COMEX International Exhibition in Muscat and is described as a pioneering initiative aimed at establishing Oman as both a regional and global hub for technology, innovation, and investment.
Suha Al Harthy, Chairperson of Afoq Development, explained that the zone will integrate the latest global technologies and future-ready solutions while drawing inspiration from Omani heritage.
She stated:
“This zone is designed to meet the needs of technology startups and position Oman among the leading countries in adopting and hosting advanced companies.”
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Farag, CEO of Prime Holding Group, revealed that the group’s network of companies, research centers, and accelerators will help create a global platform for technology companies and future-oriented investments.
National AI Program: From 2024 to 2026
The year 2026 represents a milestone for Oman’s National Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies Program, launched in September 2024 and running through 2026.
The program aims to build a digital economy capable of sustaining long-term development, with a focus on embedding AI applications across economic and developmental sectors.
Major initiatives under the program include:
- A national open data platform to support entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers.
- A national AI research and development center supporting researchers and academics.
- An AI Studio serving as a collaborative hub for IT specialists, companies, and institutions.
- An Omani national language model specialized in cultural, historical, artistic, and scientific Omani content using generative AI.
- A Fourth Industrial Revolution Center developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and the World Economic Forum.
These initiatives aim to increase the digital economy’s contribution to Oman’s GDP to 10% by 2040, up from just 2% in 2021.
“Maeen”: Oman’s First National Language Model
In September 2025, during the Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing Forum held as part of COMEX, the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology announced the launch of the Omani language model “Maeen.”
Maeen is described as Oman’s first advanced national large language model, developed and trained on local datasets to support digital sovereignty and strengthen the Arabic language ecosystem.
The model is designed to help government institutions with:
- Analysis
- Summarization
- Content generation
while ensuring that sensitive data remains securely hosted within the Sultanate, thereby improving government readiness for intelligent transformation.
AI Studio: Muscat’s Innovation Hub
The AI Studio is located within the SAS Innovation Center at Muscat Innovation Complex.
Managed by a private operator under government funding for three years, it serves as the country’s first national AI center built on an open collaborative model.
Its mission is to:
- Connect public and private sector challenges with intelligent solutions.
- Strengthen the innovation ecosystem.
- Support startups and researchers working in artificial intelligence.
Pilot Projects Across Vital Sectors
The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, in cooperation with government bodies and private institutions, has launched a package of pilot AI projects across critical sectors including healthcare, judiciary, procurement, cybersecurity, open data, and education.
Healthcare
In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Bahwan Healthcare Services, and Muscat Pharmacy, Oman implemented a national project for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy using AI.
The initiative contributed to:
- Reducing waiting lists
- Improving diagnostic accuracy
- Enhancing patient satisfaction
Through this project, Oman achieved a significant milestone by becoming the third country in the world to implement this service at a nationwide scale, with future ambitions to export the technology globally.
Medical Imaging
An AI platform for analyzing MRI scans of the spine was developed at Khoula Hospital in partnership with Civilization Company.
The platform provides preliminary analysis of medical images and supportive reports for radiologists and orthopedic surgeons, helping automate medical reporting and improve clinical decision-making.
Judiciary
In a notable pilot initiative, the Public Prosecution, in partnership with Rahal, implemented AI solutions for:
- Analyzing judicial documents
- Generating questions for case parties
- Drafting referral or dismissal decisions
The pilot reportedly achieved an accuracy rate exceeding 90%, demonstrating AI’s viability in enhancing judicial efficiency.
Procurement
The Authority for Projects, Tenders, and Local Content, in collaboration with Afaq, developed an intelligent tender evaluation system powered by AI.
The system is designed to accelerate and improve technical and financial evaluations while generating comprehensive reports containing:
- Evaluation outcomes
- Final award recommendations
This enhances decision-making efficiency, objectivity, and speed.
Cybersecurity
The Ministry’s Information Security Center, in partnership with GBM, developed an AI-powered cybersecurity chatbot to support users.
The chatbot helps provide:
- Immediate and reliable support
- Reduced manual effort
- Faster access to information
- Improved data accuracy
Five-Year Plan to Expand the Digital Economy (2026–2030)
On 10 March 2026, the Ministry announced a new package of initiatives to expand Oman’s digital economy over the next five years (2026–2030).
The plan includes:
- Establishing digital transformation centers in all governorates, with each center tailored to the economic and technological profile of its region.
- Developing a national predictive intelligence platform based on large language models to support government decision-making through advanced data analysis.
- Supporting the growth of national cybersecurity companies.
- Strengthening local manufacturing and assembly of servers and cloud infrastructure equipment to reduce reliance on international suppliers.
Additional plans include:
- Building an integrated cloud environment for processing satellite data for economic and research purposes.
- Studying the development of a national payment card to strengthen financial independence in digital payments.
Muscat Hosts Regional Central Banking Conference
On 12 February 2026, Muscat hosted the 5th Regional Central Banking Network Conference, organized by the Central Bank of Oman in cooperation with the World Bank.
The two-day conference brought together policymakers, economists, and researchers to discuss:
- Economic resilience
- Fintech adoption
- AI-driven policy transformation
The event included:
- 15 research papers selected from an international competition.
- Workshops focused on non-traditional data sources, machine learning applications, and natural language processing for central banking operations.
Ahmed bin Jaafar Al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, stated:
“Hosting the conference reflects Oman’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, encouraging knowledge exchange, and promoting constructive dialogue between academia and industry.”
Source: Omani Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology via Oman Observer
