AI in Oman

While much of Oman's SaaS conversation this year has centered on younger startups, one Muscat-based company has quietly built one of the region's fastest-growing enterprise software businesses: Rihal. With a $7.5 million first close on a $15 million Series A round, a 300-person team, and a client roster that includes Omantel, Bank Muscat, and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Rihal offers a rare look at what a mature, home-grown Omani SaaS company looks like.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Rihal (legally Data Migration and Services LLC) was founded in Muscat around 2018 by Azzan Al Kindi, Asim Al Shabibi, and Waleed Al Harthi
• The company runs four named SaaS products: Jadawel (data collaboration), Eysal (invoice automation), Hasad (time tracking), and Iqraa (AI document extraction)
• Rihal closed $7.5 million of a targeted $15 million Series A in September 2025, led by ITHCA Group, the tech investment arm of the Oman Investment Authority
• The company has grown at a 119% compound annual growth rate since its 2021 launch phase and ranked third on Deloitte's Middle East Technology Fast 50 with 2,441% growth over four years
• Team size has passed 300, with 80% in technical roles, 90% local Omani talent, and 43% women
• Clients span government, telecom, banking, and oil and gas, positioning Rihal as an enabler of Oman's Vision 2040 digital economy goals

🚀 What Rihal Actually Does

Strip away the buzzwords and Rihal is, at its core, a company that helps large organizations stop drowning in paperwork and spreadsheets. It builds and sells four cloud-based products, according to details published on the company's own services page:

• Jadawel: a cloud collaboration and database platform where teams build custom tables, forms, and workspaces instead of relying on scattered Excel sheets, with an AI layer ("Jadawel AI") for automated analysis
• Eysal: an invoice processing tool aimed at cutting the manual, error-prone approval chains that slow down finance departments
• Hasad: a time-tracking system built for professional services firms that bill by the hour
• Iqraa: an AI-powered data extraction platform that pulls structured information out of both structured and unstructured documents, useful for organizations still buried in paper records

Around these products, Rihal also runs consulting-style service lines in Intelligent Process Automation, artificial intelligence, data management, and software engineering, which is how it built relationships with large enterprise clients before productizing what it learned into SaaS tools.

🎯 Who Rihal Serves and the Problem It Solves

Rihal's client base is heavily weighted toward institutions that generate huge volumes of documents and data: government entities, telecom operators, banks, and oil and gas majors. Public case studies and partner listings point to work with Omantel, Bank Muscat, PDO, Omran, and, through its OutSystems partner profile, seven government e-services and workflow projects.

The underlying pitch is simple: these organizations are still running on document-based, manual processes, and Rihal's job is to move them to a "data-driven mentality," as the company describes its mission on its about page. That is the same structural problem tackled by smaller local players covered previously on this site, such as the tender-digitization platform profiled in our SafaQat feature, though Rihal operates at a larger enterprise and government scale.

💰 Pricing Model

Rihal does not publish pricing for Jadawel, Eysal, Hasad, or Iqraa. Its product pages direct interested organizations to "book a free demo session" or contact the sales team directly, which is standard practice for enterprise B2B SaaS sold through direct sales cycles rather than self-serve signup. Given the client profile (government bodies, banks, and energy companies), pricing is almost certainly negotiated per contract rather than offered as a fixed monthly tier.

🛠️ Tech Stack and Technical Approach

Rihal has been a certified OutSystems partner since 2022, using the low-code platform to build web and mobile e-services applications for government clients quickly. Beyond low-code delivery, the company describes a proprietary "Rihal Data Engine with built-in automation capabilities" powering its data management practice, alongside in-house machine learning work underpinning Jadawel AI and Iqraa's document extraction models. Co-founder and CTO Waleed Al Harthi has said the company has focused on growing an in-house Omani engineering team rather than outsourcing core development, an approach that lines up with the 90% local-talent figure Rihal has publicly cited.

🏆 Rihal's USP vs. Competitors

Globally, invoice automation, document extraction, and low-code database tools are crowded categories, with competitors ranging from UiPath and Airtable-style products to large systems integrators. Rihal's edge is less about a single killer feature and more about positioning: it combines several enterprise SaaS products under one roof with deep, existing relationships inside Oman's government and energy sectors, an advantage that is difficult for foreign vendors to replicate quickly in a market where trust and Arabic-language, government-compliant delivery matter. Locally, it competes less with consumer-facing Omani SaaS startups and more with regional systems integrators and multinational enterprise software vendors trying to win the same government and oil and gas contracts.

📈 The Journey So Far

Public records place Rihal's founding around 2018, with the Oman Startup Hub listing its formal establishment in January 2019 and its entry into the Hub's programs in April 2020. The company has since grown from a niche data-migration specialist into a broader digital transformation and SaaS provider, according to ArabFounders' funding coverage.

Two milestones stand out in 2025:

• Rihal ranked third on Deloitte's Middle East Technology Fast 50 (third edition), posting 2,441% growth over four years, as reported by Oman Observer
• In September 2025, Rihal announced a $7.5 million first close of a targeted $15 million Series A round, led by ITHCA Group, the venture arm of the Oman Investment Authority, according to Wamda and The SaaS News

The company says it has posted a 119% compound annual growth rate since its 2021 seed round, a figure cited in company statements carried by Tribe Techie and Day of Dubai. Rihal's second close remains open to strategic investors as it works to complete the full $15 million target.

ITHCA Group's leadership echoed that confidence. "Rihal's performance has been nothing short of exceptional. Their ability to rapidly scale, innovate, and penetrate diverse, high-value sectors is why we are proud to lead their Series A round," said Said Al Mandhari, CEO of ITHCA Group, in comments carried by Tribe Techie. Ameer Al-Alawi, ITHCA's Director of Asset Management, added that "Rihal is one of those rare players with the right leadership, traction, and vision to scale beyond Oman and into the broader GCC."

👥 Team and Leadership

Rihal's founding team consists of three co-founders: Azzan Al Kindi (CEO), Asim Al Shabibi (COO), a former Schlumberger product and service delivery manager who managed roughly $400 million in well project execution before co-founding Rihal, and Waleed Al Harthi (CTO), who previously worked on digital projects with Shell, PDO, BP, OQ, and OLNG. Their LinkedIn profiles are public: Azzan Al Kindi, Asim Al Shabibi, and Waleed Al Harthi.

Per the company's own funding announcement, the team has grown past 300 people, with 80% in technical roles, 90% Omani nationals, and 43% women, a workforce composition that also feeds directly into Oman's Omanisation targets. Readers tracking the broader local hiring market can compare this against our recent roundup of AI and tech jobs currently open in Oman, where enterprise software roles of this kind regularly appear.

🇴🇲 Rihal and Oman's Vision 2040

Rihal's business model, helping government bodies and state-linked companies digitize document-heavy processes, sits squarely inside Vision 2040's push toward a diversified, digital-first economy. Its client list (Omantel, Bank Muscat, PDO, Omran) reads like a checklist of the institutions Vision 2040 wants to see modernized, and ITHCA Group's backing, as the investment arm of the Oman Investment Authority, signals that the state sees enterprise SaaS as a strategic sector worth funding rather than just a side story to consumer apps. A 90% Omani workforce inside a fast-scaling tech exporter is also a rare, tangible example of Omanisation and digital-economy goals reinforcing each other rather than competing.

Why this matters for Oman

Most locally covered SaaS success stories in Oman so far have been young, small teams solving a single problem. Rihal shows a different, complementary path: a seven-year-old, 300-person company graduating from IT services into a multi-product SaaS portfolio, backed by sovereign capital, and competing regionally against much larger international vendors. If its Series A closes at the full $15 million target and its GCC expansion plans hold, Rihal could become one of the clearest proof points that Oman can build, not just import, the enterprise software its government and largest companies depend on.

Whether you are a fresh graduate chasing your first tech job, a working professional trying to future-proof your career, or a student curious about artificial intelligence, August 2026 is a good month to start. Universities in Muscat still have seats open for their September intake, private training centers run rolling cohorts almost every week, and the government's flagship digital skills initiative keeps churning out graduates. Here is a practical, no-fluff roundup of AI, machine learning, and data science courses you can actually enroll in right now.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• University-accredited MSc and BSc programs in Data Science are open for admission at GCET, Middle East College, Muscat University, and the College of Banking and Financial Studies (CBFS).
• Private institutes such as NobleProg, Unichrone, Sprintzeal, DataMites, and Learners Point run flexible short courses, most of which start new cohorts monthly.
• The government's Makeen Nanodegree Program (with Udacity) has closed its most recent AI Product Management intake, so Omani jobseekers should watch for the next application window rather than assume it is open today.
• The Information Technology Authority's free Community IT Training Programme remains a low-cost entry point for digital literacy at Community Knowledge Centers across the Sultanate.
• Most private courses list fees in US dollars or Omani rials and accept enrollment year-round, so "deadline" often means "whenever the next cohort fills up."

🎓 University Programs With Open Enrollment

1. MSc Data Science (UWE Bristol) at GCET, Muscat

The Global College of Engineering and Technology offers a UK-accredited MSc Data Science awarded by the University of the West of England, Bristol. The program covers programming (R, Python, HTML/JavaScript), statistical inference, machine learning, predictive analytics, and big data storage and processing.

• Mode: In-person, block-flexible (day or evening) delivery
• Duration: 1 year full-time (3 semesters) or up to 2 years part-time
• Fees: OMR 6,630 per year
• Eligibility: Bachelor's degree, minimum 2:2, in Computer Science, IT, Maths, Statistics, Engineering, or another quantitative field; IELTS 6.0 or equivalent
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: Check website for latest intake dates
• Certifying body: University of the West of England, Bristol

2. MSc Data Science (Coventry University) at Middle East College

Middle East College launched its Coventry University-accredited MSc Data Science programme in 2025 and continues to enroll new cohorts. The curriculum spans data analytics, machine learning, data visualization, data engineering, and AI-driven decision-making, with an emphasis on internships and applied research.

• Mode: In-person, Muscat campus
• Duration: Typically 1-2 years
• Fees: Contact provider
• Eligibility: Relevant bachelor's degree; contact admissions for specifics
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: Check website for latest dates
• Certifying body: Coventry University, UK
• Link: mec.edu.om or 80055008

3. BSc Data Science & AI at Muscat University

Muscat University's four-year undergraduate degree blends foundational computer science with applied data science and AI modules, aimed at school leavers heading straight into a tech career.

• Mode: In-person
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: Contact provider
• Eligibility: A-levels grade C or above in three subjects including mathematics, or equivalent; IELTS 5.0+
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: Rolling admissions; check Muscat University's admissions page for the current cycle
• Certifying body: Muscat University

4. BSc Data Science at the College of Banking and Financial Studies

Less well known outside finance circles, CBFS in Muscat runs a four-year BSc in Data Science aimed at students who want to combine quantitative analysis with the banking and fintech sector that is central to Oman's cashless-payments push, a theme we covered in this month's hiring roundup.

• Mode: In-person, Muscat
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: Contact provider
• Eligibility: High school completion; specific entry requirements available from admissions office
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: Check website for latest dates
• Certifying body: College of Banking and Financial Studies

💻 Flexible Short Courses & Bootcamps in Muscat

5. Data Science Program & Introduction to Data Science, NobleProg Oman

NobleProg Oman runs dozens of instructor-led courses covering machine learning, deep learning, supervised learning, and explainable AI, delivered either onsite in Muscat or online. Two flagship options are a 245-hour (roughly 7-week) full Data Science Program and a shorter 35-hour Introduction to Data Science.

• Mode: Onsite (Muscat) or online
• Format: Instructor-led
• Duration: 35 hours (intro) to 245 hours (full program), plus 7-21 hour specialist modules
• Fees: Contact for quote
• Eligibility: Intermediate-level analysts, developers, or aspiring data scientists with basic Python knowledge
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: Rolling; cohorts scheduled on request
• Certifying body: NobleProg completion certificate

6. Certified Data Scientist (CDS), DataMites

DataMites offers an internationally recognized 8-month live online program (roughly 700 hours) with 25 capstone projects and job placement support, dual-certified by IABAC and NASSCOM.

• Mode: Online, live sessions
• Duration: 8 months live, or 1 year self-paced
• Fees: OMR 890 (live) or OMR 620 (self-paced); watch for periodic discount windows
• Eligibility: Open to graduates and working professionals; no strict prerequisite
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: New batches open monthly; check website for the next start date
• Certifying body: IABAC and NASSCOM

7. AI Expert Training, Unichrone (Muscat)

Unichrone runs a compact 3-day intensive covering AI foundations, neural networks, NLP, and computer vision, available both online and in a Muscat classroom, with new cohorts typically scheduled multiple times per month.

• Mode: Online or classroom (Muscat)
• Duration: 3 days
• Fees: Approximately $1,440 (online) to $1,740 (classroom)
• Eligibility: Professionals and technical staff; no strict prerequisite
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: Rolling monthly cohorts; contact provider for the current August/September schedule
• Certifying body: Unichrone completion certificate

8. AI and Machine Learning Masters Program, Sprintzeal (Muscat)

Sprintzeal's online-live program covers Python, machine learning models, deep learning, NLP, and large language models across 16 days of live instruction, with recorded session access for revision.

• Mode: Online, live
• Duration: 16 days of live sessions
• Fees: Contact advisor for current pricing (previously listed around $2,999)
• Eligibility: Bachelor's degree (50%+) and basic programming background
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: Rolling enrollment
• Certifying body: Sprintzeal completion certificate

9. Data & AI Short Courses, Learners Point Training Institute (Muscat)

Learners Point offers a menu of practical short courses through its Muscat center, including Machine Learning with Python, Microsoft Power BI (PL-300), Data Analyst Certification, and Tableau Desktop.

• Mode: In-person or online
• Duration: 24-40 hours per short course, up to 4 months for the full Data Analyst Certification
• Fees: Roughly OMR 157 to OMR 742 depending on the course
• Eligibility: Open to professionals and career switchers
• Instruction: English
• Deadline: Ongoing enrollment via Laimoon's Oman listings
• Certifying body: Course-specific (e.g., Microsoft for PL-300)

🏛️ Free and Government-Backed Options

10. Community IT Training Programme (CITT), Information Technology Authority

Run through Community Knowledge Centers across the Sultanate, the Community IT Training Programme is a free, entry-level digital literacy course aimed at reducing computer illiteracy and preparing citizens to use e-government services. It is not an AI-specific program, but it remains one of the only zero-cost, walk-in tech training options in Oman and a genuine on-ramp for people who later progress into more advanced data or AI courses.

• Mode: In-person, at Community Knowledge Centers nationwide
• Duration: Short modular sessions (varies by center)
• Fees: Free
• Eligibility: Omani citizens, all skill levels
• Instruction: Arabic and English
• Deadline: Rolling; contact your nearest Community Knowledge Center
• Certifying body: Ministry of Manpower

⏸️ One Program to Watch, Not Apply to Yet

The government's flagship Makeen Nanodegree Program, run by MTCIT with the Ministry of Labour and delivered by Udacity, has trained more than 11,000 Omani jobseekers so far, according to Muscat Daily. Its tracks include a fully funded AI Product Management nanodegree covering dataset creation, model building, and measuring AI impact in business, plus tracks in Data Analysis and Visualization with Power BI, Business Analytics, and Digital Marketing.

The most recent application window for these nanodegrees has already closed, so we are not listing it as an open course this month. Given the program's pace of roughly one intake per year, Omani jobseekers should bookmark the Makeen site and MTCIT's social channels so they do not miss the next window when it opens. This sits alongside MTCIT's separate "Engineer It with AI" competition, which we covered in detail last month as it moved into its prototype phase.

🌍 Beyond Oman: Regional and Global Free Options

If none of the above fit your schedule, several regional and international providers keep short AI awareness courses free and open to anyone with an internet connection, including entry-level modules referenced by education aggregators covering Oman-based learners. These will not replace a formal qualification but are a reasonable way to test interest in the field before committing money or time to a full program.

🇴🇲 Why This Matters for Oman

Oman's National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies runs through the end of 2026 and explicitly names workforce training as one of its three pillars, alongside sector adoption and AI governance, according to MTCIT. That national push connects directly to the kind of measurable progress tracked in Oman's broader development goals, including the digitization gains detailed in this look at what Oman quietly delivered toward Vision 2040. Every graduate of a data science MSc, every DataMites capstone project, and every free Community Knowledge Center session adds to the local talent pool that Oman's AI-driven job market, chronicled in this month's hiring roundup, will need to fill. The courses are not going anywhere. The only real constraint left is deciding to enroll.