Saturday 25 / July / 2026
Muscat: Oman's decision to become a founding member of the newly established Global Cooperation Organization for Artificial Intelligence (AI) marks a significant step in the country's efforts to position itself as a regional and global player in AI governance, while reinforcing its long-term strategy to build a knowledge-based digital economy.
The Sultanate signed the agreement establishing the organisation in Shanghai, China, joining 28 other countries in an initiative aimed at strengthening international cooperation and governance in artificial intelligence. The move reflects Oman's commitment to embracing emerging technologies while contributing to the development of global standards for the responsible use of AI.
Building a national AI ecosystem
According to Hassan Fida Al Lawati, Head of the National Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies Programme at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the first phase of Oman's National Artificial Intelligence Programme (2021–2025) focused on laying the foundations for a national AI ecosystem.
The programme was built around three key pillars: expanding AI adoption across economic and development sectors, localising AI technologies, and establishing governance frameworks centred on human values. During this phase, government institutions launched a range of initiatives aligned with the national strategy to accelerate AI adoption across sectors.
Among the most notable achievements was the launch of 'Mu'een', Oman's first national generative AI language model, developed using more than 3,000 local datasets with contributions from 60 government institutions. The initiative is intended to strengthen Omani digital content and preserve national knowledge within the era of generative AI.
The government also established the Artificial Intelligence Studio, providing innovators and institutions with a collaborative platform to develop AI solutions. More than 100 advisory sessions have been conducted through the studio, benefiting over 200 participants.
Other milestones include the launch of the Green Artificial Intelligence Alliance, promoting environmentally sustainable AI development, and the Oman Digital Triangle, a global initiative aimed at developing green computing infrastructure and AI data centres while supporting sustainability goals.
Second phase targets localisation and innovation
Building on these achievements, the second phase of the National AI Programme (2026–2030) aims to move Oman beyond AI adoption towards developing indigenous capabilities in AI research, innovation and technology localisation.
Al Lawati said the next phase will focus on integrating AI into industry, expanding its use across government and the economy, nurturing national talent, developing an innovation ecosystem, strengthening computing infrastructure and investing in emerging technologies such as quantum computing.
The programme also seeks to expand national high-performance computing capacity, further develop the Maeen language model and enhance research capabilities in advanced technologies, helping Oman generate economic and knowledge value from AI while strengthening technological sovereignty.
Governance must keep pace with technology
Experts believe Oman's participation in the new global AI organisation provides an opportunity to influence the future of international AI governance rather than simply adopting external standards.
Dr. Saeed bin Mohammed Al Kalbani, a researcher specialising in AI and advanced technologies, noted that rapid advances in AI are outpacing governments' ability to regulate the technology effectively. He cited findings from the Independent International Scientific Committee on Artificial Intelligence, which warned that current governance frameworks have not kept pace with technological development.
According to Al Kalbani, joining the new organisation enables Oman to contribute to shaping international AI standards while ensuring they reflect national priorities and local experience.
He stressed that AI governance should evolve continuously through practical implementation, evaluation and learning rather than relying solely on legislation. Institutions, he said, should become active contributors to regulatory knowledge through research, innovation and real-world experience.
Al Kalbani also called for the development of a national AI institutional maturity framework to measure readiness in leadership, skills, data governance, risk management and impact assessment, enabling Oman to contribute evidence-based proposals in international forums.
International collaboration essential
Saleh bin Obaid Al Khaldi, an expert in communications and artificial intelligence, said effective AI governance requires collaboration among governments, universities, research centres, private companies and international organisations.
He argued that global challenges such as privacy, cybersecurity, transparency and algorithmic bias cannot be addressed by individual countries alone, calling for permanent platforms for knowledge exchange, joint research and internationally recognised technical and ethical standards.
Al Khaldi said Oman's digital transformation strategy and its strategic location linking Asia, Africa and Europe position the country to become a regional hub for dialogue on AI governance and international cooperation.
Trust key to AI adoption
Dr. Rami Shaheen, Secretary-General of the Global Artificial Intelligence Award, emphasised that trust is fundamental to AI adoption.
He advocated independent evaluation laboratories, algorithmic impact assessments and transparent reporting of AI performance and failures to build public confidence. He also highlighted the importance of risk-based regulation, regulatory sandboxes and internationally recognised AI management standards that balance innovation with the protection of privacy and human rights.
Shaheen said compliance should become a competitive advantage rather than a bureaucratic obligation, supported by greater public awareness and professional certification programmes grounded in international AI ethics principles.
AI governance as an economic advantage
Jordanian economist Dr. Adli Qandah said countries that establish credible AI governance systems are likely to attract greater investment as businesses increasingly seek stable and transparent regulatory environments.
He urged institutions to develop measurable indicators for digital readiness, transparency, data quality and AI's economic impact while documenting successful national experiences and sharing them internationally through research partnerships and multilateral cooperation.
According to Qandah, future competitiveness will depend not only on technological capabilities but also on the ability to build what he described as an "economy of trust in AI," where confidence in governance becomes as important as infrastructure, capital and human talent.
With its founding membership in the Global Cooperation Organization for Artificial Intelligence and an ambitious second phase of its national AI strategy underway, Oman is seeking to position itself not only as a user of emerging technologies but as an active contributor to shaping the future global framework for artificial intelligence governance.
