SAMENA
Leaders Conference, Omantel Enhance Investment Opportunities in Oman’s Digital
Economy

Muscat,
13 Oct 2026 (ONA) — Oman Telecommunications Company “Omantel” today
hosted the ” SAMENA Council Leaders AXIS
Conference 2026″ under the theme “Oman: The New Geography of Digital
Investment.”

The
event was held under the auspices of Eng. Omar Hamdan Al Ismaili, CEO of the
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

The
conference highlighted promising investment opportunities in digital
infrastructure and modern technologies, ways to enhance the Sultanate of Oman’s
standing as a regional hub for digital investment, and the expansion of
economic and technical partnerships with regional and international
institutions and companies.

The
conference proceedings focused on economic opportunities offered to the Omani
market and the Gulf region by rapid developments in these sectors, along with
associated prospects to attract further investments in digital infrastructure,
build technical capabilities, develop commercial partnerships, and open new
avenues for Omani companies, in addition to encouraging international companies
to establish operations and expand their presence in the Sultanate of Oman and
the Middle East and North Africa region.

These
directions carry special importance given the assets possessed by the Sultanate
of Oman, led by its strategic geographic location qualifying it to serve as a
gateway to Gulf markets, its international connectivity networks, the expansion
of its digital infrastructure and data centers, as well as its significant
potential in the energy sector. These assets constitute an important base for
attracting investments and developing new economic activities, in line with the
targets of “Oman Vision 2040” to diversify the national economy and
enhance its competitiveness.

Eng.
Aladdin Bait Fadhil, CEO of Omantel, stated that with the emergence of
generative artificial intelligence, we are witnessing for the first time in
history a technological revolution whose impacts extend across the entire value
chain, starting from digital infrastructure and vital infrastructure with their
associated data sovereignty requirements, through the development of enterprise
and consumer applications, up to the emergence of a new generation of startups
delivering solutions and services within this advanced technological ecosystem.

He
added that amidst this transformation, the Sultanate of Oman possesses key
assets enabling it to leverage opportunities offered by these technologies,
including telecommunication networks, digital infrastructure, human competencies,
and a strategic geographic location, alongside its economic and developmental
directions. He explained that Omantel’s role in the Sultanate of Oman and the
region lies in building upon these assets and converting them into economic and
commercial opportunities for companies, investors, and global technology firms,
thereby benefiting the national economy.

He
explained that over past years, Omantel has invested in more than 20
international submarine cable systems, taking advantage as well of the largest
terrestrial network in the Middle East region through “Zain Omantel
International” (ZOI). This has solidified its position as a leading
wholesale provider of international telecommunications services and capacity in
the region, meeting the needs of telecom operators, major global technology
companies, content providers, and cloud service providers. He noted that ZOI’s
business spans eight markets, drawing upon international connectivity
capabilities of Omantel and Zain, which encompass approximately 120 thousand
kilometers of submarine cable networks and direct connectivity to more than 120
cities worldwide.

He
stated that alongside its investments in digital infrastructure and
international connectivity, the company accords high importance to developing
tech startups and enhancing their growth and expansion capabilities.
Furthermore, Omantel Innovation Labs continues to support the tech
entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Sultanate of Oman, having contributed since
2021 to supporting more than 80 tech startups operating in fields including
generative artificial intelligence, enterprise solutions, cybersecurity, and
data analytics. The labs enable these companies to benefit from technical and
specialized expertise, build relationships with sector institutions and
investors, and explore expansion opportunities and access to new regional
markets.

The
CEO of Omantel added that these investments and initiatives reflect the
importance of linking digital infrastructure development with building
technical and commercial capabilities—a theme representing a primary focus of
the conference, which discussed how the Sultanate of Oman can further
capitalize on economic activities associated with digital infrastructure, data,
modern technologies, and international telecom networks, transforming expansion
in these fields into investment and commercial opportunities that deliver added
value to the national economy.

The
Conference serves as a vital platform bringing together various stakeholders,
allowing the exploration of ways to integrate these emerging technologies in
the Sultanate of Oman and identifying areas of cooperation and partnerships
that can be developed during the upcoming phase.

For
his part, Bocar BA, CEO of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, stated that the
Sultanate of Oman holds vast opportunities to expand economic activities tied
to digital infrastructure. Achieving this requires collaboration among
investors, technology companies, national institutions, infrastructure
providers, and local firms, noting that Omantel holds special significance in
these discussions given its role extending across national telecom networks,
international infrastructure, technology development, regional presence, and
supporting the growth of the Omani digital ecosystem.

He
noted that the SAMENA Leaders Conference AXIS seeks to bring these parties
together to examine available opportunities and develop relationships,
partnerships, and investment activities that directly contribute to supporting
economic growth in the Sultanate of Oman.

Omantel’s
hosting of the conference comes in its capacity as a member of the Board of
Directors of the SAMENA Telecommunications Council and as an extension of its
role in developing the telecommunications and digital technology sector at
local and regional levels. The company anchors this role on its investments in
telecom networks, international connectivity, data centers, and cloud
computing, alongside its technology investments, regional business, and
initiatives supporting Omani tech startups, thereby contributing to enhancing
digital ecosystem integration in the region.

Conference
discussions extended across several sectors linked to the future of digital
investment, foremost among them the energy sector and its relationship with
computing infrastructure, amidst accelerated growth in data centers, computing
capabilities, cloud services, telecommunication networks, and associated
facilities. Discussions covered the importance of energy availability, supply
reliability, and sustainability in digital infrastructure investment decisions,
as well as the need to achieve integration between technological capacity
development and energy infrastructure.

Additionally,
the space and satellite sector received dedicated focus during the conference
proceedings through a session discussing the sector’s evolution in the
Sultanate of Oman and opportunities offered by telecom networks to develop new
commercial applications and services, including ground infrastructure, data
services, and space technology-enabled applications, alongside cooperation
opportunities between national institutions, companies, and international
entities.

Discussions
emphasized that growth opportunities in the Omani market go beyond implementing
new infrastructure projects to include developing national companies and
capabilities, building partnerships and investment models, attracting clients,
and fostering a supportive business environment. These aspects carry
significance in determining the volume of economic value achievable from
digital investments and the extent to which the national economy benefits from
them over the long term.

The
Conference allowed Omani institutions and companies to showcase local market
opportunities and investment priorities before international participants. It
also provided companies seeking to enter the Omani market or expand their
operations in the Sultanate of Oman and the region an opportunity to identify
potential partners and clients, and explore areas of cooperation in digital
infrastructure to establish long-term commercial and investment relationships.

Through
this conference, the SAMENA Telecommunications Council and Omantel contributed
to providing a platform bringing together national institutions, investors, and
international companies to examine cooperation and investment opportunities,
thereby enhancing the Sultanate of Oman’s standing as a “gateway to the
Gulf” and supporting the development of international partnerships that
serve mutual interests and contribute to business and digital economy growth.

The
conference was attended by representatives from the telecommunications, digital
infrastructure, data centers, cloud computing, space technologies and
satellites, energy, and investment sectors.

—Ends/AG