Oman’s leading telecom and ICT provider, Omantel, has officially launched its AI Centre of Excellence, a new national platform aimed at accelerating artificial intelligence adoption and strengthening the country’s digital innovation ecosystem.
The initiative is designed to transform innovative ideas into practical, high-impact solutions by providing startups with access to advanced infrastructure, technical expertise, innovation support, and skills development programmes.
According to Omantel, the centre will help Omani startups develop scalable, market-ready AI solutions with the potential to compete in regional and global markets.
The announcement was made during the 10th Rawabet Forum hosted by Omantel and organised by the Oman Investment Authority. The annual forum brings together portfolio companies to align strategic priorities, strengthen collaboration, and showcase key achievements and joint initiatives.
As part of the launch, Omantel signed partnership agreements with five Omani startups accelerated through its Innovation Labs programme — Remedy, ORKI, Decoil, DeepAstra, and Wiya. The collaborations are focused on building advanced technology solutions aligned with national development priorities and the evolving needs of businesses across the region.
The partnerships will also provide startups with real deployment environments to help transform concepts into commercially viable products that are scalable and ready for market adoption.
Speaking on the initiative, Omantel Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Aladdin Baitfadhil, said the company’s AI strategy is focused on making artificial intelligence more accessible and impactful across industries.
He noted that the AI Centre of Excellence represents a major step toward empowering startups to create practical solutions while contributing to the growth of a people-centered innovation ecosystem.
According to him, Omantel intends to continue leading digital transformation efforts in Oman and across the wider region by enabling innovation and supporting emerging technologies.
Participating startups will gain access to Omantel’s advanced digital infrastructure, integrated data environments, executive mentorship, and specialised technical support aimed at accelerating product development and reducing time-to-market.
The programme also offers startups opportunities to expand beyond Oman by leveraging Omantel’s regional footprint and international partnerships to enter high-growth markets and reach new customer segments.
Omantel said the initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040, the country’s long-term development strategy focused on economic diversification, innovation, and digital transformation.
The telecom giant continues to invest heavily in emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and smart solutions to strengthen customer experience and drive digital growth across key sectors of the economy.
