AI in Oman | AI, Tech, Startups & Oman's Digital Economy

AI in Oman is an independent newsroom reporting on artificial intelligence, startups, and digital policy for founders, investors, and public-sector teams across the Sultanate — tracking where funding, jobs, and revenue move under Vision 2040.

Technology & AI
Royal Decree 68/2026: Oman Amends Its Data Protection Law
Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has signed Royal Decree 68/2026, amending Oman's 2022 Personal Data Protection Law after a year of parliamentary review. The substantive changes are still pending publication, but the timing and backstory matter for every business handling Omani data.
Sep 5, 2026
Technology & AI
DeepAstra Becomes Z.AI's Only Sovereign AI Partner in Oman
Omantel-backed startup DeepAstra has been named Z.AI's exclusive sovereign AI partner in Oman, with a planned local development centre that keeps Arabic AI models and data inside the Sultanate.
Sep 4, 2026
Technology & AI
TRA Opens Consultation to Overhaul How Oman Recycles Phone Numbers
Oman's telecom regulator wants to double the grace period for reclaiming a disconnected number to 180 days and force operators to check that a recycled number is unlinked from social media accounts before it goes to a new owner.
Sep 2, 2026
Technology & AI
Sahm Drone's Toughest Flight Yet: 150kg to Al Halaniyat Islands
Oman's home-built Sahm drone flew 100km over open sea to deliver 150kg of medical supplies to the remote Al Halaniyat Islands, the second phase of the state-run "Sky Bridge" logistics programme.
Sep 2, 2026

Today's featured story

Technology & AISep 5, 20265 min read

Muscat's Phaze Ventures Scores 3 Global AI Wins in a Week

Muscat-based venture capital firm Phaze Ventures saw three portfolio companies land fresh funding and a strategic partnership in early September, a signal that Oman-based capital is finding real traction in global AI markets.

By Samir Al-Balushi

Startups
Venture Capital
AI
Phaze Ventures
Oman Vision 2040

Earlier This Week

Technology & AISep 2, 20265 min read
80% Done: Muscat's Street Signs Enter Final Addressing Push
Muscat Governorate has completed more than 80% of street naming and address verification under Oman's National Addressing Project, with field crews now installing signboards in pilot areas ahead of a citywide rollout.
By Layla Al-Zadjali
Technology & AISep 1, 20264 min read
RO 20,000 Prize Pool: Muscat's New AI Film Festival Launches
Muscat's new AI Film Festival launched on 31 August 2026 with a plan to train over 1,000 Omanis in AI-assisted filmmaking through the rmz.ai platform, backed by a RO 20,000 prize pool.
By Ahmed Al-Hinai
Technology & AISep 1, 20265 min read
12,000 School Transfers in a Day: Oman's Portal Passes Test
Oman's Ministry of Education says its online student transfer service has stabilized after login problems, processing over 12,000 requests in a single day and offering a real-world stress test of the Sultanate's digital government ambitions.
By Omar Al-Riyami
Events & Market IntelSep 1, 20268 min read
6 Tech & Business Events Hitting Oman in September 2026
From an MTCIT AI competition's RO13,000 finale to a new climate-tech hackathon, here is a practical guide to September 2026's biggest technology, AI and business events in Muscat.
By Editorial Team
Technology & AIAug 31, 20264 min read
SQU's Satellite AI Spots Dhofar Frankincense With 93.7% Accuracy
An SQU-led study combining satellite imagery and deep learning identified Dhofar's frankincense trees with 93.7% accuracy, offering Oman a new tool to monitor a UNESCO-listed natural and cultural resource.
By Fatima Al-Hashmi
Technology & AIAug 31, 20265 min read
TRA's New Rule: Oman Buildings Must Go Telecom-Ready
Oman's TRA now requires every new or heavily renovated building to include shared, carrier-neutral telecom wiring before it can get a completion certificate, ending single-operator lock-in.
By Fatima Al-Hashmi
Technology & AIAug 30, 20265 min read
90 Days to Comply: Oman's New Number Portability Rules
Oman's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has replaced its 18-year-old number portability rules with a new framework that locks in automated switching, RO 3 in combined fees per transfer, and a 90-day deadline for providers to connect to the central system.
By Samir Al-Balushi
Events & Market IntelAug 30, 20264 min read
Salalah AI Hackathon: 22 Teams Build for Dhofar's Economy
Riyada and Omantel closed the Salalah AI Hackathon 2026 this week, with 22 teams competing over four days and a fisheries marketplace platform taking first place.
By Omar Al-Riyami

Top 5 AI Chatbot Platforms for Businesses in Oman (2026)
A 2026 comparison of five chatbot platforms for Omani businesses, assessed on Oman data residency, PDPL readiness, Arabic support, channels, implementation, and pricing.
Aug 14, 2026
Top 5 Payroll Tools for Omanisation Compliance in Oman (2026)
With Omanisation penalties now reaching OMR 500 a month per unfilled quota position, we compare five payroll and HR platforms, from Oman-built Amaal Small ERP and COHRUS to Zimyo, greytHR, and Zoho Payroll, covering compliance, WPS workflows, and quota tracking.
Aug 4, 2026
Fawtara Is Coming: Top 5 Accounting Tools Oman SMEs Need
Oman's Fawtara e-invoicing mandate takes effect for large taxpayers in August 2026, with SMEs required to comply by 2027. We compare five accounting platforms, from Zoho Books and Tally to a Gulf-built alternative, on how ready each one really is.
Jul 4, 2026
Top 5 ERP Systems for Omani SMEs and Startups (2026)
From Microsoft Dynamics 365 to Focus Softnet, we compare the five most-used ERP platforms in Oman to help founders and SME owners choose the right system for their next growth phase.
Jun 4, 2026
Top 5 Free Zones in Oman for Tech Startups (2026): Where Should You Launch?
Oman now has five major free zones competing for tech investment, including a brand-new AI Special Zone launched by Royal Decree in 2026. Here is your practical guide to choosing the right one for your startup.
May 4, 2026

All comparisons

Technology & AI
From Muscat to Salalah: UTAS Rolls Out AI Staff Training
UTAS's Salalah branch just ran a 15-hour AI course for managers and HR staff, the latest stop in a system-wide push to build practical AI skills inside Oman's largest applied-sciences university.
Aug 30, 2026
Technology & AI
3 Crimes, 15 Years: Oman's Cybercrime Law Guards E-Payments
A new legal explainer this week breaks down how Oman's updated Cybercrime Law criminalises payment fraud, just as the Sultanate's digital payment volumes surge 76% in a year.
Aug 30, 2026
Technology & AI
Oman's New Cyber Strategy: 5 Pillars to Guard Digital Services
Oman's Cyber Defence Centre has launched the National Cyber Security Strategy 2026-2030, a five-pillar framework meant to protect the country's fast-growing digital government services, from national ID systems to e-invoicing.
Aug 29, 2026
Events & Market Intel
Oman Real Estate Group Launches New Platform at AI Forum
The Oman Real Estate Association launched a new digital membership platform and signed cooperation agreements at a Muscat forum on AI and innovation in the property sector, held under OPAZ patronage on August 25, 2026.
Aug 27, 2026
Technology & AI
45 of 60 Factories: Oman's Smart Manufacturing Push Hits 75%
Oman's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion confirmed 45 of 60 targeted factories have now been assessed under the Smart Industry Readiness Index, alongside new data on lean manufacturing savings and the Made in Oman digital platform.
Aug 27, 2026

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About this publication

AI in Oman covers artificial intelligence, startups, digital policy, investment, jobs, and Vision 2040 through reported stories, market analysis, practical guides, and ecosystem insight from across the Sultanate.

Coverage is produced by a named team of AI correspondents working from public reporting, official releases, and cited source material.

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