Oman has ranked third globally in deploying artificial intelligence in healthcare, following the nationwide rollout of AI-powered diabetic retinopathy screening. The achievement comes as the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) accelerates the implementation of the National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies through a series of pilot projects across healthcare, judiciary, cybersecurity, procurement, education, and open data.
Launched in collaboration with government entities and private-sector partners, the initiatives are designed as low-risk, innovation-driven pilots that demonstrate how public-private partnerships can fast-track digital transformation. These projects are fully supported by implementing companies and aim to encourage wider AI adoption across government services.
One of the flagship national initiatives is the AI Studio, Oman’s first open, collaborative national center for artificial intelligence. Based at the SAS Center for Innovation in Innovation Park Muscat, the AI Studio connects real-world challenges with smart solutions, supports startups and researchers, and operates under private management with government funding for three years.
Another strategic milestone is “Muain AI”, Oman’s first national large language model trained on local data. Designed to support digital sovereignty and strengthen Arabic-language AI capabilities, Muain AI assists government employees with analysis, summarization, and content creation while ensuring sensitive data remains securely within the country.
In healthcare, the Ministry of Health partnered with Bahwan Healthcare and Muscat Pharmacy to deploy AI-based early detection of diabetic retinopathy nationwide. The project has significantly reduced waiting lists, improved diagnostic accuracy, enhanced patient satisfaction, and expanded access to care, positioning Oman as a global leader with potential to export the technology internationally.
Additional healthcare applications include a Radiology AI platform at Khoula Hospital, developed with Civilization, which analyzes spinal MRI scans and provides preliminary reports to support radiologists and orthopedic specialists.
Beyond healthcare, AI projects span multiple sectors. The Cybersecurity Center, working with GBM, introduced an intelligent chatbot to provide real-time cybersecurity support. In education, the A2M Platform, developed with the National University of Science and Technology, predicts student outcomes to support academic planning. In procurement, AI-powered systems such as Afaq and Himam are automating tender evaluations and open data analysis, improving transparency and decision-making speed.
The Public Prosecution has also adopted AI, implementing a system that analyzes legal documents, generates case-related questions, and drafts judicial decisions with over 90% accuracy, while ensuring sensitive data is processed locally.
Collectively, these initiatives underscore Oman’s commitment to using artificial intelligence to enhance service quality, improve government efficiency, and strengthen public-private collaboration. They align closely with Oman Vision 2040 and reinforce the Sultanate’s growing role as a regional hub for advanced digital technologies.
