Muscat — October 21, 2025: The Oman Research and Education Network Technology Summit (OTS25) opened at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, spotlighting Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a key driver in reshaping education, research, and innovation across the Sultanate. The two-day summit was inaugurated under the patronage of Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim Al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and welcomed Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), as guest of honour.
The event brought together academics, policymakers, and global experts to explore AI’s potential in curriculum development, personalized learning, and applied research—in line with Oman’s National AI and Advanced Technologies Programme and the broader national digital transformation agenda.
Driving AI Adoption Across Education
The summit featured interactive panels, workshops, and technology showcases, including live demonstrations of AI tools in learning environments. Najah bint Mohammed Al Rashdiyah, Director-General of the Innovation Centre at the Ministry, emphasized the government’s focus on integrating AI into educational systems, highlighting collaboration and sustainability as essential to long-term progress.
Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, presented Oman’s AI roadmap, underlining efforts in talent development, human-centred governance, and cross-sectoral AI adoption.
Meanwhile, Prof. Marc-Antoine Dilhac, UNESCO AI Ethics Expert from the University of Montreal, delivered a keynote titled “Learning and Teaching in the Age of Generative AI,” emphasizing the balance between innovation and ethics. He urged educators to promote transparency, prompt engineering skills, and creativity in AI-assisted learning environments.
Regional and Global Collaboration
Dr. Al Ghamdi shared Saudi Arabia’s experience in scaling AI initiatives and advancing women’s participation in AI, job creation, and model development—underscoring shared regional ambitions in responsible innovation.
OTS25 also served as a hub for research partnerships, technology transfer, and capacity-building agreements between academia, industry, and government bodies. The ‘Future Path Exhibition’ showcased AI-driven projects from 12 academic institutions, while the SDAIA Pavilion drew attention for its demonstrations in drones, 3D printing, and virtual reality.
Building Oman’s AI Future
The summit concluded with sessions on AI and the digital economy, including the announcement of “Gamathon” Hackathon winners—innovators developing AI solutions to support Oman’s knowledge-based economy.
Experts emphasized AI’s broader impact beyond education—highlighting its ability to enhance productivity, foster innovation, and create new economic opportunities while maintaining a focus on ethical and sustainable deployment.
As OTS25 wrapped up, it reaffirmed Oman’s growing commitment to artificial intelligence as a foundation for a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready society under the country’s ongoing digital transformation journey.
