Oman has inaugurated the Hadatha Center for Cybersecurity Manufacturing at Middle East College, marking a major milestone in advancing the Sultanate’s cybersecurity and digital innovation ecosystem.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) through the National Information Security Center, and developed in collaboration with Middle East College, is part of the National Executive Program for Cybersecurity Manufacturing.
According to the Oman News Agency (ONA), the Hadatha Center is designed to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and research in cybersecurity while building a self-sustaining national industry. The center will connect the government, private sector, academia, and investors to accelerate the creation of local cybersecurity solutions, startups, and job opportunities.
Aziza Sultan Al-Rashidia, Assistant Director General of Cybersecurity Programs at MTCIT, emphasized that “innovation has become an urgent necessity in modern societies,” adding that the center aims to position Oman as a regional hub for cybersecurity and digital manufacturing by nurturing local talent and promoting creative, homegrown technologies.
The Hadatha Center will feature specialized training programs, hackathons, and accelerator initiatives to develop new cybersecurity technologies. Upcoming events include the Hadatha Hackathon, which will challenge participants to address real-world cyber threats, and the launch of incubation programs to support startups and entrepreneurs.
The center will also collaborate with Oman’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Center to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies into cybersecurity solutions — a key step in bolstering national resilience and advancing Oman’s digital economy.
