Forum
Reviews Digital Application Data Protection Frameworks, Digital Contract
Legislation

Muscat,
9 Sep (ONA) — A forum on digital applications and legal challenges, which
began today, reviewed data protection and privacy frameworks, legislation
related to digital contracts, and the legal liability for artificial
intelligence (AI) decisions.

The
opening ceremony for the forum, which is organized by the Telecommunications
Regulatory Authority (TRA), was opened under the auspices of Dr. Ali Amer Al
Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and
Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology. It was
attended by a wide range of governmental, judicial, and academic institutions,
along with international experts and representatives from leading technology
companies.

The
forum featured several discussion sessions and working papers on key global
regulatory trends for digital applications, digital application regulation, and
the protection of personal data and privacy.

In
his speech, Taher Awadh Al Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Legal Affairs
Unit at the TRA, highlighted the importance of establishing a flexible and
balanced legislative environment capable of protecting the rights of
individuals, developers, and institutions that use digital applications.

He
noted that Oman has recently transformed into an increasingly
digitally-dependent society. According to recent statistics, there were over
6.7 million active mobile subscriptions at the beginning of 2025, which is
equivalent to 124% of the population. There are also 5.14 million internet
users, and 3.29 million active social media users, representing about 61% of
Omani society.

He
pointed out that internet speeds have risen to levels that can support the most
advanced applications, with an average mobile download speed of 92 Mbps and a
fixed internet speed of 78 Mbps. Regarding subscriptions, Oman had more than
5.4 million mobile broadband subscriptions and approximately 588,000 fixed
internet subscriptions as of May 2025.

Al-Ibrahim
stated that IoT subscriptions have increased by more than 1.3 million compared
to 2020, bringing the total to about 1.55 million. This reflects the national
economy’s transition to a new phase based on smart cities, digital logistics,
and digital applications.

The
forum is expected to conclude with a set of practical recommendations to
enhance the legislative and regulatory system for digital applications and keep
pace with global technological developments, contributing to a secure,
innovation-friendly digital environment in Oman.

—Ends/AG