Oman’s growing pool of national cybersecurity talent has demonstrated strong market readiness through the outcomes of the Hadatha Hackathon, according to officials from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. The initiative produced practical, high-quality cybersecurity solutions tailored specifically to the telecommunications sector, a critical pillar of the country’s digital economy.
Badr Ali al Salhi, Director General of Oman National CERT, said the hackathon stood out for its sector-specific focus and emphasis on real-world challenges faced by telecom operators. Participants developed applied prototypes rather than theoretical concepts, guided by challenges defined in collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders.
The event brought together 142 participants across 46 teams, reflecting rising national interest in cybersecurity as both a career path and a strategic economic field. Solutions addressed key telecom security priorities, including user data protection, digital identity security, safeguarding subscriber devices, cyber fraud prevention, 5G network protection, cloud security, compliance monitoring, and AI-driven cybersecurity applications.
Al Salhi noted that the presence of experts from regulatory bodies and telecom companies ensured solutions were aligned with operational realities, increasing their potential for deployment. He added that many projects showed strong commercial promise due to their grounding in real market needs, supporting Oman’s digital economy goals and strengthening local innovation.
