Technology news and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Technology News and insights in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa
Vodafone Oman and Sultan Qaboos University concluded a three-day hackathon focused on practical digital transformation solutions across government, healthcare, smart cities, and cybersecurity. The initiative produced deployable concepts and reinforced a broader partnership supporting AI research, talent development, and applied innovation in Oman.
Bawabat Accelerator has launched through a partnership between ITHCA Group and Saudi Vision Venture Capital to help Omani tech startups scale into Saudi Arabia. The initiative connects founders with Saudi investment networks, regional expertise, and early-stage capital, strengthening cross-border collaboration between Oman and Saudi venture ecosystems.
Omantel received an investment-grade ‘BBB-’ rating from Fitch, reflecting strong financial fundamentals, market leadership, and strategic importance to Oman’s digital transformation. The upgrade highlights Omantel’s role in advancing digital infrastructure, economic diversification, and regional technology leadership.
Rakiza has raised $1 billion from global investors to finance infrastructure projects in Oman, supporting sectors including food security, telecoms, logistics, and energy. Backed by the Oman Investment Authority, the fund has created a new channel for foreign investment while building an independent platform for long-term national development.
Oman ranked 68th in the Digital Quality of Life Index 2025, down from 56th last year. While the country performed strongly in digital infrastructure and showed improving internet speeds, weaknesses in digital security and overall connectivity contributed to its decline in the global rankings.
A major telecom company’s decision to cut 125 jobs has sparked debate in Oman over responsible corporate restructuring and private-sector job security. Economists say the move highlights the need to balance efficiency with talent retention, skills development, and the broader signals such actions send to the national labour market.
Rakiza has raised $1 billion from global investors to support Oman’s infrastructure development, funding projects across food security, telecoms, ports, and energy. Backed by OIA, the fund is now shifting focus toward digital infrastructure and data centres while preparing a second, larger fund for regional growth.
The Nursing Informatics Forum 2025 at Sultan Qaboos University highlighted how student-led digital health innovations can be translated into real clinical applications. The event reinforced the role of nursing informatics in improving patient care, operational efficiency, and healthcare quality, in line with Oman’s broader digital transformation goals.
Oman has launched its first mobile genetic research laboratory to support biodiversity studies across all governorates. The facility enables on-site analysis of plant, animal, marine, and microbial samples, accelerating research, improving data quality, and supporting Oman Vision 2040’s goals for innovation, sustainability, and a knowledge-based economy.
Oman’s mobile subscriptions exceeded 8 million by October 2025, growing 11.3 percent year-on-year as IoT, fiber broadband, and mobile data adoption accelerated. The data reflects the country’s continued digital transformation and shift toward advanced connectivity technologies.