MUSCAT: A chief web page adjoining to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) headquarters close to Muscat Global Airport has been decided on to host Oman’s newly established Synthetic Intelligence Particular Zone, in step with Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Particular Financial Zones and Loose Zones (OPAZ).
Affirmation of the site was once disclosed in the newest version of Duqm Economist, OPAZ’s quarterly e-newsletter, marking the primary reliable indication of the place the landmark generation zone will probably be advanced.
In step with Al Yousef, the AI Particular Zone will occupy roughly 104,000 sq. metres within the Wilayat of Seeb, Muscat Governorate, as regards to the Civil Aviation Authority development. The site was once selected to maximize integration with current delivery, virtual and logistics infrastructure whilst improving the zone’s beauty to world buyers.
Established below Royal Decree No. 50/2026, the Synthetic Intelligence Particular Zone is meant to boost up innovation, foster an built-in virtual financial system and enhance financial diversification objectives defined in Oman’s 11th 5-Yr Plan (2026-2030).
The virtual financial system is projected to succeed in a median annual enlargement price of 10.8 in step with cent at consistent costs all the way through the plan length, with its contribution to gross home product anticipated to achieve round 4.2 in step with cent, underscoring its rising function as a key pillar of nationwide financial enlargement.
The Board of Administrators of OPAZ has been tasked with appointing the entity answerable for growing, running and managing the zone in coordination with the Ministry of Delivery, Communications and Knowledge Generation. The association is meant to verify institutional coordination whilst growing an funding setting conducive to complicated generation industries.
Al Yousef mentioned the brand new zone will perform below Oman’s Particular Financial Zones and Loose Zones Legislation, enabling buyers to get pleasure from a complete package deal of incentives, exemptions and facilitation measures designed to draw main world generation firms.
Precedence sectors will come with synthetic intelligence, semiconductors and robotics, whilst nearer integration with Oman’s current financial zones is anticipated to support provide chains and foster more potent linkages between generation industries and different productive sectors.
OPAZ, running collectively with the Ministry of Delivery, Communications and Knowledge Generation, could also be making ready a complete implementation and operational roadmap for the challenge. The framework will outline governance preparations, institutional obligations, investment-friendly insurance policies and function signs to measure the zone’s financial and developmental affect whilst making sure alignment with nationwide priorities.
Manal bint Hamid al Abri, Director of Funding Contracts and Agreements at OPAZ, mentioned the zone is being designed as an absolutely built-in innovation ecosystem supporting each and every level of generation construction, from analysis and construction via commercialisation and operations. Along with synthetic intelligence, it is going to goal semiconductors, robotics, the Web of Issues, cybersecurity and information centres, positioning Oman as a regional hub for complicated virtual industries and innovation-driven funding.
