Investments
Worth RO 1.2 Billion Attracted in Communications, Information Technology Sector
in 2025

Muscat,
12 Jan 2026 (ONA) — Investment in the logistics sector in the Sultanate of
Oman during the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) increased to approximately RO
3.4 billion.

During
its annual media briefing held today in Muscat, the Ministry of Transport,
Communications and Information Technology indicated that it succeeded in
attracting investments in the communications and information technology sector
worth RO 1.2 billion in 2025. This includes approximately RO 65 million invested
in the field of artificial intelligence. Revenue growth from the ports sector
reached 17.4 percent, from maritime affairs 9.4 percent, and from land
transport 18 percent.

Eng.
Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and
Information Technology, stated that the total length of roads under
implementation during 2026 amounts to about 1,120 kilometers, with a total
estimated cost of RO 1.2 billion.

In
his speech, he added that Omani ports witnessed an increase in the volume of
cargo handled during 2025, exceeding 143 million tons compared to 137 million
tons in 2024. More than 5.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were
handled, compared to 4.2 million TEUs in 2024. Additionally, Omani ports
received more than 60 cruise ships carrying 200,000 passengers.

He
explained that the investment agreements signed by the Ministry during the
Tenth Five-Year Plan in the ports sector contributed to increasing the
operational efficiency and productivity of the ports. This, he said, led to an
increase in handling volume during 2025 at Shinas Port by 689.3 percent and an
increase in general cargo handling at Salalah Port by 16.7 percent.

In
response to journalists’ inquiries, the Minister of Transport, Communications and
Information Technology stated that following the signing of the vehicle
tracking project within the next two months, the “Muscat Metro”
project will be announced.

For
his part, Eng. Khamis bin Mohammed Al Shamakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry
of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Transport, said that
work has commenced on implementing the project to develop Al Mouj Road and 18
November Road.

He
anticipated the inauguration during 2026 of a number of vital road projects,
most notably the dualization of Al Farooq Road in Salalah, the project to pave
roads in the Wilayat of Muqshin, Sultan Turki bin Said Road linking the
Wilayats of Al Kamil and Al Wafi with Sur, the Aqabat Wadi Bani Khalid road, in
addition to the project to pave (Harweeb – Al Mazyunah – Maitan) road, the
project to construct Al Mughsayl Bridge, along with the project to pave Seih Al
Kheirat – Al Shasr road in Dhofar Governorate.

He
added that during 2025, the Ministry issued more than 370 navigation permits
for foreign ships operating in Omani territorial waters. The number of ships
and marine units that were renewed exceeded 2,400, the number of certificates
issued to sailors exceeded 1,920, and the number of licenses for marine
activities exceeded 1,540.

He
clarified that the number of electronic transactions completed via the
Ministry’s “Naql” platform exceeded 326,000 during 2025, and the
total licenses issued through the platform surpassed 290,000.

The
Undersecretary for Transport pointed out that the lighting of Al Batinah
Expressway will be completed after the final complementary works. As for Sultan
Turki bin Said Road, a tender for its lighting has been floated and it will be
operational during the first half of 2026. He explained that the Al Amerat
Tunnel project and the road linking the Wilayat of Al Amerat with the Wilayat
of Dama Wa Al Ta’een is one of the investment projects put up for bidding, and
the Ministry is in the process of receiving and analyzing these bids.

For
his part, Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shaithani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of
Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and
Information Technology, affirmed that the Ministry is working on a number
of investment projects in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to
enhance the digital economy. The most prominent of these include the
announcement of Oman Digital Triangle initiative to develop three
geographically dispersed but digitally connected digital zones, the Green AI
Alliance project, and the AI Dedicated Zone project to attract supporting
institutions and emerging technology companies in AI and other technologies
from within the Sultanate of Oman and from Middle Eastern and African
countries.

He
clarified that the number of companies specialized in artificial intelligence
in the Sultanate of Oman reached about 46 by 2025, and the number of companies
operating in the space sector reached 25. He explained that the Middle East
Space Conference, concerned with promoting and marketing the space sector in
the Sultanate of Oman, will be organized during this month.

—
Ends/AH