Oman has announced the launch of the ‘National Program for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Advanced Digital Technologies’, which seeks to make information and communication technologies a basis for stimulating sectors of the national economy.
The launch of the new program aligns with Oman Vision 2040 and extends from 2024 to 2026.
Key program initiatives
Oman’s national AI program features various initiatives and projects that keep pace with global developments in the sector. It includes establishing a national platform for open data to support entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers and a national center for research and development in AI to support researchers and academics. The AI program will also implement computing initiatives to spread awareness, enhance research, and adopt computing applications across Oman.
Moreover, it seeks to establish a “studio” for AI to be a meeting place for IT specialists, companies, and institutions looking for technical solutions. Furthermore, the program will establish an Omani language model that will be made well-versed in Omani cultural, historical, artistic, and scientific content using generative AI.
Finally, it seeks to establish a center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
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Advancing Oman’s digital economy
Said Hamoud Al Ma’awali, minister of transport, communications, and information technology, said that the program is an upgrade on the Executive Program for AI and Advanced Technologies that Oman launched in 2022. Al Ma’awali added that the ministry has embarked on establishing solid grounds for the implementation of AI applications and advanced digital technologies in Oman. The overall aim is to build a digital economy that is capable of maintaining sustainable development.
The program emphasized introducing AI applications in economic and development sectors with the aim of localizing advanced digital technologies, achieving good governance, and making progress in Oman’s global indices. Hence, the country seeks to place among the top 50 countries in the Government AI Readiness Index.
Oman expects the initiatives to raise the contribution of the digital economy to Oman’s GDP to 10 percent by 2040 from 2 percent in 2021.
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