PDO’s
“Emdad” Program Celebrates Graduation of 366 Omani Youth

Muscat,
5 Oct 2026 (ONA) — Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) celebrated today in Muscat
the graduation of the 21st batch of the “Emdad” program, which
comprises 366 Omani youths among its graduates.

The
graduation ceremony was held under the auspices of Sayyid Saud Hilal Al
Busaidi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth.

The
implementation of this program comes through a partnership between Petroleum
Development Oman and the Oman Energy Association (OPAL), with the participation
of a number of private sector contracting companies, embodying the shared
commitment to developing national capabilities, increasing job opportunities
for Omani youth in the labor market, and supporting in-country value (ICV) in
the energy sector.

The
program combines theoretical qualification of national competencies with
practical experience in the workplace environment, equipping participants with
the knowledge and skills required by the sector and preparing them to enter the
labor market.

Dr.
Aflah Said Al Hadhrami, Director General of Petroleum Development Oman, said:
“At PDO, we believe that investing in people is an investment in the
future of Oman, and our youth, with their ambition and competence, are the
cornerstone of this future. It is our responsibility to provide them with
opportunities that hone their skills, enrich their experiences, and enable them
to build successful careers.”

Al
Hadhrami explained that this program is held within an integrated system for
in-country value at Petroleum Development Oman, which includes empowering and
employing Omani talent, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and
localizing domestic industries, thereby contributing to creating sustainable
economic value within the Sultanate of Oman. Over the past ten years, the
direct economic value generated by the company’s in-country value program
reached more than RO 7 billion and contributed to providing over 17,500 job
opportunities for Omanis, reflecting the impact of these initiatives in
supporting economic and social development and building national capabilities.

This
batch of the Emdad program included several specialized disciplines required in
the Omani energy sector, namely the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
Professionals Training for Employment Program, the Planning Engineering
Training for Employment Program, the Lifting Equipment Inspection Training for
Employment Program, the Practical Training Program with Contracting Partners,
the Vocational Apprenticeship Program, the Drilling Fluids Engineers Program,
the Explosion Protection Equipment Inspectors Program, the Electrical
Technicians Program, and the Mobile Crane Operators Program.

It
is worth noting that all graduates of this 21st batch have joined employment
across 54 companies, embodying the direct impact of the program in linking
qualification with employment opportunities and supplying the sector with
qualified national competencies.

—Ends/AG