Digital Industry Program (Hasaad)
Year: 2024
The 2024 Digital Industry Program Report outlines Oman’s progress toward a thriving digital economy aligned with Vision 2040. As a core pillar of the national digital economy strategy, the program focuses on promoting digital industry, attracting foreign investments, nurturing startups, building national talent, and increasing the contribution of the ICT sector to GDP. Key initiatives included “Numou” and “Jadara” to support startups and facilitate their participation in major tech events like COMEX and LEAP, with over 133 startups involved and multiple partnerships formed. The “Sas 48 Hackathon” and various digital competitions further fostered innovation. Training programs under “Makeen” aimed to upskill over 25,000 Omanis in advanced digital skills, achieving high employment rates, while initiatives like drone competitions, AI bootcamps, and support for professional certifications further developed local capabilities. Significant investments exceeded $60 million in COMEX and $35 million in sectors like semiconductors and blockchain mining, alongside efforts to enhance legislative frameworks and foreign investor engagement. International collaborations, the launch of Oman Startup Hub, and Google Street View projects also marked milestones. Additionally, outreach through social media and podcasts increased public engagement, while governance measures like workforce localization policies and government software license management strengthened the sector’s ecosystem. Overall, the program reflects a coordinated national effort to accelerate Oman’s digital transformation.