Technology & AI

Technology & AI Articles

Explore our latest insights and analysis in technology & ai.

OIA's 10x Return on Crusoe: The $10B AI Bet That Paid Off

Oman's sovereign wealth fund achieved a 10.3x capital return and 68% annual IRR from its partial exit of Crusoe, a $10 billion AI infrastructure company backed by Microsoft and NVIDIA, cementing OIA as one of the world's top-performing sovereign funds.

Zaheer Al-Lawati
May 24, 2026

Oman's AI Zone, GPT-5.5, and Google's Agent Push: April 2026's Biggest Shifts

April 2026 brought a wave of major AI model launches, a landmark AI zone announcement from Oman, and Google's most ambitious enterprise AI push yet. Here is everything that matters.

Layla Al-Zadjali
May 23, 2026

Royal Decree, 104,000 SQM, and a RO 100M First Investor: Inside Oman's New AI Special Zone

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik signed Royal Decree No. 50/2026 on April 30, 2026, establishing Oman's first AI Special Economic Zone in Seeb, Muscat. Here is what it covers, who it targets, and what the inaugural investor has already committed.

Layla Al-Zadjali
May 17, 2026

Saif Al-Essai Built Two Exits, Then Set Oman's Pre-Seed Record with Sampo AI

From a Muscat bedroom to seven MENA markets in under a year: how Saif Al-Essai and Khalifa Manaa built Sampo AI, broke Oman's funding record, and are rewriting how e-commerce businesses price their products.

Dr. Khalid Al-Rashdi
May 15, 2026

2,441% Growth: Meet Azzan Al-Kindi, the Omani Engineer Behind Rihal's Rise

After years working at Schlumberger in oil fields, Azzan Al-Kindi co-founded Rihal in Muscat. Four years later, it is the third fastest-growing tech company in the Middle East, with a Series A underway and 300-plus Omani professionals on the team.

Surah Al-Balushi
May 15, 2026

How Two Omani Engineers Built Byanat: Oman's Fastest-Growing AI Startup

Ahmed Alghadani and Dr. Ahmed Albadi co-founded Byanat in Muscat in April 2022, building an AI observability platform for telecom operators and data centers. By February 2025, they had raised a Pre-Series A round led by Golden Gate Ventures and opened offices in Riyadh and Doha.

Surah Al-Balushi
May 15, 2026

Sampo AI: Inside Oman's Record-Breaking Pricing SaaS

Founded in Muscat in July 2024, Sampo AI closed Oman's largest-ever pre-seed round of $750,000 just six months after launch, building AI-powered dynamic pricing tools for MENA e-commerce retailers across seven countries.

Omar Al-Riyami
May 11, 2026

Omantel Launches AI Hub and Backs 5 Omani Startups

Omantel's new AI Centre of Excellence selects five Omani startups for its inaugural cohort, pairing them with live infrastructure, real data environments, and commercial access across telecom, energy, and government.

Omar Al-Riyami
May 10, 2026

8 AI & Tech Jobs Open in Oman Right Now (May 2026)

From Muscat data science consultancies to global tech giants, here are eight AI, machine learning, and analytics roles actively hiring in Oman this month.

Fatma Al-Zahra
May 9, 2026

OIA Bets on the Brain: Oman's Sovereign Fund Invests in Neuralink

The Oman Investment Authority has backed Elon Musk's Neuralink, adding brain-computer interface technology to a growing portfolio that already includes xAI and SpaceX. Here is what the move signals about Oman's deep-tech ambitions.

Ahmed Al-Hinai
May 3, 2026

Oman's Space Economy Takes Off: AI Satellite, $200M Investment, and a National CubeSat Programme

From an AI-powered Earth observation satellite launching in H1 2026 to a $200 million sovereign connectivity deal, Oman is rapidly building a space economy with artificial intelligence at its core.

Zaheer Al-Lawati
Mar 26, 2026

SpaceX-xAI's $1.25T Merger, Seven Frontier Models, and $189B in Funding: February 2026 Was Unreal

February 2026 broke every record in AI: the largest merger in history, seven frontier models launched in a single month, $189 billion in funding, and Oman's Omantel launched its sovereign cloud platform. Here is everything you need to know.

Layla Al-Zadjali
Mar 23, 2026

Oman Bets Big on Chips: OIA Attracts 3 Global Semiconductor Firms in $38M Push

The Oman Investment Authority has attracted three US-based semiconductor companies to set up operations in the Sultanate, with a combined investment of $38 million that is creating high-skilled chip design jobs for Omani graduates.

Omar Al-Riyami
Mar 22, 2026

Oman Unveils 2026-2030 Digital Economy Roadmap: National AI Platform, Digital Centres, and a Path to 10% of GDP

MTCIT has launched a sweeping five-year plan to expand Oman's digital economy, including a national AI language model, digital transformation centres in every governorate, and a target of 10% GDP contribution by 2040. Here is what the numbers say and why it matters.

Zaheer Al-Lawati
Mar 22, 2026

Oman's Data Center Market Set to Hit $492 Million by 2031: What This Means for Cloud and AI

A new market report reveals Oman's data center infrastructure is poised for 9.34% annual growth through 2031, driven by 5G expansion, cloud adoption, and AI deployment across the Sultanate.

Editorial Team
Mar 15, 2026

Meet Qais Al Jedyani: The Forbes 30 Under 30 Founder Transforming Oman's HoReCa Sector

From computer engineering student to Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, Qais Al Jedyani is building Madad, a B2B marketplace revolutionizing how Oman's hospitality businesses procure supplies.

Omar Al-Riyami
Mar 15, 2026

Inside Byanat: How This Omani AI Startup is Revolutionizing Telecom Infrastructure

Founded in 2022, Byanat has become Oman's fastest-growing tech startup, securing funding from 500 Global and major telecom operators with its AI-powered infrastructure platform.

Fatma Al-Zahra
Mar 11, 2026

AI and Tech Training in Oman: Your Guide to Courses Available Now

From government-sponsored bootcamps to international certifications, discover AI, machine learning, and technology training programs you can join in Oman this year.

Fatima Al-Hashmi
Mar 10, 2026

AI & Tech Jobs Hiring Now in Oman (March 2026)

From machine learning engineers to Python developers and cybersecurity specialists, Oman's tech sector is actively hiring across multiple disciplines with opportunities at both local and multinational companies.

Omar Al-Riyami
Mar 9, 2026

UNESCO Recommends National AI Supercomputer for Oman: A Game Changer for Tech Sovereignty

UNESCO's March 2026 AI Readiness Assessment positions Oman to become a regional AI hub through sovereign computing infrastructure, addressing current reliance on foreign cloud providers.

Editorial Team
Mar 8, 2026

Omantel Launches Otech: A Major Step Toward Digital Sovereignty in the Middle East

On February 11, 2026, Omantel unveiled Otech at the Royal Opera House Muscat, marking a strategic transformation from telecom operator to comprehensive technology provider. The platform becomes the first in the Middle East to deliver AWS-accredited sovereign cloud services.

Editorial Team
Mar 1, 2026

The AI Revolution Accelerates: 7 Major Developments from January-February 2026

From OpenAI's advertising push to DeepSeek's cost-efficient breakthroughs, here's how the global AI landscape is shifting and what it means for Oman's tech ecosystem.

Zaheer Al-Lawati
Feb 23, 2026

Omantel Launches Otech: First Middle East Sovereign Cloud Platform

On February 11, 2026, Omantel unveiled Otech at the Royal Opera House Muscat, consolidating cloud, AI, and cybersecurity services while becoming the first company in the Middle East accredited by AWS to deliver sovereign cloud solutions.

Ahmed Al-Hinai
Feb 22, 2026

Omantel Launches Otech: A Game Changer for Digital Sovereignty in the Middle East

Omantel's new technology platform Otech, launched February 11, 2026, consolidates cloud, AI, and cybersecurity services while becoming the first Middle East company accredited by AWS to deliver sovereign cloud solutions.

Ahmed Al-Hinai
Feb 15, 2026

AI & Tech Training Roundup: Courses Available in Oman This February

From government-sponsored AI programs to international certifications, discover the data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence courses you can enroll in across Oman this month.

Editorial Team
Feb 10, 2026

AI & Technology Jobs in Oman: February 2026 Roundup

From data scientists to DevOps engineers, Oman's tech sector is actively hiring across AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and cloud computing roles as the Sultanate advances toward Vision 2040 goals.

Zaheer Al-Lawati
Feb 9, 2026

Suhar Investment Forum 2026: RO 300 Million in Opportunities Signals Oman's Tech-Driven Industrial Future

Oman's second Suhar Investment Forum drew investors from over 30 countries, showcasing RO 300 million in projects with a strong focus on digital transformation, AI-driven solutions, and smart industrial development.

Fatima Al-Hashmi
Feb 8, 2026

Revolutionary AI Platform Brings Oman's Rich History to Life

On November 20, 2025, Oman unveiled an groundbreaking AI-powered platform that transforms how citizens and visitors experience the nation's cultural heritage, featuring personalized historical narratives and AI-generated traditional greetings.

Layla Al-Zadjali
Nov 20, 2025

Oman Approves Revolutionary Maal Card Digital Payment Framework

On November 19, 2025, the Central Bank of Oman approved a groundbreaking fee structure for the Maal Card, setting new standards for digital payments and financial inclusion across the Sultanate.

Omar Al-Riyami
Nov 19, 2025

Ooredoo Oman Powers Mulhim AI Hackathon: Generative AI Innovation Takes Center Stage

Ooredoo Oman's sponsorship of the Mulhim Generative AI Hackathon on October 29 brings together Oman's brightest minds to develop cutting-edge AI solutions, with winning projects set to transform key sectors of the economy.

Samir Al-Balushi
Oct 29, 2025

OTS25 Concludes: Oman's Education Tech Revolution Takes Center Stage

The Oman Research & Education Network Technology Summit (OTS25) wrapped up on October 21, showcasing groundbreaking initiatives in educational technology, research collaboration, and digital infrastructure that will transform Oman's academic landscape.

Dr. Khalid Al-Rashdi
Oct 21, 2025

Back to School 2025: How Oman's EdTech Revolution is Transforming Every Classroom

As 700,000 students return to school this August, they're walking into AI-powered classrooms, VR labs, and personalized learning systems. Inside Oman's $400 million education technology transformation.

Layla Al-Zadjali
Aug 22, 2025

Oman Unveils National AI Strategy 2025-2030: A Blueprint for Digital Sovereignty

The Ministry of Transport, Communications & IT launches Oman's comprehensive AI strategy, targeting 30,000 AI jobs, $5B economic impact, and positioning the Sultanate as the Gulf's AI innovation hub by 2030.

Dr. Khalid Al-Rashdi
Aug 16, 2025

Oman–India Tech Partnership: Driving Innovation Beyond Borders

Discover how growing technology ties between Oman and India are creating new opportunities, from joint AI projects to IT talent exchange and beyond.

Omar Al-Shamsi
Jun 7, 2025

Oman’s Tech Rise: 5 Reasons It’s Becoming a Regional Innovation Hub

From massive 5G rollout to Vision 2040 investments, explore five factors propelling Oman to the forefront of Middle Eastern tech and why businesses should take note.

Surah Al-Balushi
Mar 15, 2025