9 Startup & AI Programs Open in Oman This Fall (2026)

Oman's startup support machinery keeps expanding, but it rarely announces deadlines with much fanfare. This roundup pulls together the accelerator cohorts, government grants, and entrepreneurship programmes that founders in Muscat, Duqm, and beyond should be watching in September and October 2026, split between AI-focused tracks (which get an extra month of lead time) and general startup support.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• The Oman Technology Fund's Techween (pre-seed) and Wadi Accelerator (seed) programmes run rolling cohorts twice a year; founders should email OTF now to confirm the H2 2026 intake window.
• MTCIT's new Sas for Excellence initiative offers up to RO 1 million in financing plus wage support for up to 40 Omani employees, and applications remain open on a rolling basis.
• A new Industrial Business Accelerator from Riyada, Madayn, and the Industrial Innovation Academy launches in September 2026, though its application window closed on August 12; watch for the next intake.
• The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry's fifth Franchise Programme begins implementation in September 2026, targeting 26 Omani brands.
• General, always-open options like the National Business Centre, Oman Development Bank, and Future Fund Oman continue accepting applications year-round.

🤖 AI Startup Programs (September & October 2026)

AI-focused founders get extra runway in this roundup, since serious accelerator applications typically take weeks to prepare. Here is what is realistically open through October.

1. OTF Techween (Pre-Seed)

Run by the Oman Technology Fund, Techween provides USD $50,000 in pre-seed funding for 7% equity, plus co-working space at Knowledge Oasis Muscat and a 12-week mentoring track. OTF runs two cohorts a year but does not publish exact opening dates. Deadline: Rolling, H2 2026 cohort window not yet confirmed. Founders should email info@otf.om or call (+968) 2417 2717 directly to ask about the current intake.

2. OTF Wadi Accelerator (Seed Stage)

One rung up from Techween, Wadi Accelerator targets startups with a working product and early customer traction, offering USD $100,000 in seed funding across a three-month programme for roughly 10 startups per batch. Deadline: Rolling, same H2 2026 window as Techween. Same contact channel: info@otf.om.

3. MTCIT Sas for Excellence

Launched in June 2026 by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Sas for Excellence is aimed at mature, fast-growing Omani tech companies (AI, cybersecurity, and electronic systems design) rather than first-year startups. It bundles up to RO 1 million in direct financing, wage subsidies for up to 40 Omani employees, and priority access to government procurement. Undersecretary Dr Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani said the initiative is designed to help Omani technology companies "develop and own locally built digital solutions" while strengthening the country's digital self-sufficiency. Deadline: Rolling, no fixed cutoff announced. Details and the application portal are at sas.om.

4. Numo-Microsoft for Startups Accelerator (Watch List)

MTCIT's Numo programme, run with Microsoft, gives Omani ICT startups free Azure credits, access to Microsoft's AI tools, and go-to-market mentorship. Its third edition, with 66 participating companies, launched in April 2026 and that application window has since closed. MTCIT has not yet announced a fourth edition, but given the programme's cadence, a new call could land before year-end. Deadline: Not yet announced; monitor the Numo platform for a September or October update.

🚀 General Startup Programs (September 2026)

5. Industrial Business Accelerator

A new joint initiative from the Industrial Innovation Academy, Riyada, and Madayn launches in September 2026 and runs for six months across two tracks: Industrial Innovation Development (15 startups) and Industrial Venture Creation (15 entrepreneurs or business owners). Support includes specialised training, prototype development, mentoring, and integrated office space at Madayn facilities. The application window closed on August 12, 2026, so this round is shut, but the six-month cohort runs into 2027 and a next intake is likely. Follow the Industrial Innovation Academy's social media channels for the next call.

6. OCCI Franchise Programme (Fifth Edition)

The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry begins implementation of its fifth Franchise Programme in September 2026, an eight-month track that helps qualify 26 Omani brands for franchise expansion by documenting operational systems and preparing them for local and international franchise agreements. This is less a startup accelerator than a scale-up programme, but it is one of the few structured entrepreneurship tracks with a confirmed September start. Contact OCCI directly for enrollment details, as specific application procedures were not published.

7. National Business Centre (NBC)

Operating under Madayn (PEIE) at Knowledge Oasis Muscat, the NBC remains the most accessible entry point for early-stage Omani founders who want subsidized office space and mentorship without giving up equity. Deadline: Rolling, applications accepted year-round.

8. Oman Development Bank

The bank offers loans from OMR 5,000 to OMR 1,000,000 at rates of 2 to 5% annually, with interest-free options available up to RO 15,000 for qualifying entrepreneurs. This channel now also effectively absorbs the financing role once handled separately under the Al Raffd Fund umbrella. Deadline: Always open, with a typical 6 to 12 week assessment period through the bank's online platform.

9. Future Fund Oman

Backed by the Oman Investment Authority with $5.2 billion in committed capital, Future Fund Oman allocates 3% of its capital specifically to startups and 7% to SMEs. In July 2026, the fund announced a new package of 105 projects worth $1.744 billion, spanning renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism. Deadline: Rolling, year-round submissions through futurefund.om.

Riyada's ongoing Entrepreneur Readiness Programme is also worth a mention here, not as a funding source but as a prerequisite many founders take before approaching Oman Development Bank. Over 8,200 people enrolled in the first half of 2026 alone, with more than 7,600 earning the Entrepreneur Readiness Certificate, according to Times of Oman. Registration stays open year-round through gov.om.

For founders who tracked our earlier coverage of the ecosystem, our June 2026 startup support guide remains a useful comparison point, since several of the always-open programmes listed there, including the NBC and Oman Development Bank, carry through unchanged into this fall's list.

🇴🇲 Why This Matters for Oman

None of these programmes individually will transform Oman's startup scene overnight, but together they show a system maturing in layers: rolling seed capital from OTF, growth-stage financing from MTCIT's Sas for Excellence, sector-specific accelerators like the new Industrial Business Accelerator, and always-open safety nets through the National Business Centre and Oman Development Bank. That layered approach is exactly what Vision 2040 calls for: a pipeline that can take a founder from idea to export-ready company without leaving the Sultanate. The gap that remains is transparency around deadlines. Several of the programmes covered here, from OTF's cohorts to the Numo accelerator, still require a direct email or a social media follow just to find out when applications open. As Oman's ecosystem matures, publishing fixed, predictable application calendars would do as much for founder confidence as any single grant.