Latest news with #MTCIT
Muscat Daily
5 hours ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Muscat Daily's cybersecurity conference returns with quantum focus
Muscat – The highly anticipated second edition of Muscat Daily's Cybersecurity and Cloud Conference & Awards is set to take place on July 9, at the Intercity Hotel in Al Khuwair, Muscat. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, this year's conference will bring together leading minds in cybersecurity, cloud computing, and tech innovation to address the rapidly evolving digital landscape – particularly the emerging challenges and opportunities introduced by quantum technologies. The event will host a distinguished gathering of policymakers, business leaders, security professionals, and digital transformation experts. Dr Salim Sultan al Ruzaiqi, Member of the State Council and Chairman of the Oman Information Technology Society (OITS), will be present as the chief guest, while Dr Salim al Shuaili, Chief AI Officer at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), will deliver the keynote address. This year's conference is endorsed by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) and is supported by prominent organisations from both the public and private sectors. Strategic support comes from Securado and Khimji ITC, powered by Tatweer, with Oman Housing Bank as the official banking partner. Additional partners include Sultan Qaboos University, OITS, the Oman American Business Council, VIDopix, and the Academy of Research & Innovation. The conference also welcomes Femina and Empowered Entrepreneur as online media partners, engaging audiences across the Middle East, the USA, the UK and India. To be held under the theme 'Cybersecurity in the Quantum Era: Challenges and Opportunities', the conference will explore how rapidly advancing technologies like quantum computing and artificial intelligence are reshaping cybersecurity frameworks worldwide. As these tools evolve, they introduce new vulnerabilities – demanding bold, resilient strategies to protect data and critical infrastructure. The event will serve as a platform for sharing insights, best practices, and practical solutions for the digital age. Throughout the day, attendees will benefit from expert-led discussions, interactive panel sessions and real-world case studies. The programme also includes a prestigious awards ceremony, recognising organi- sations and professionals who have demonstrated excellence in cybersecurity and cloud adoption across diverse sectors. More than 200 delegates are expected, including CISOs, CIOs, CTOs, IT heads, policymakers, cybersecurity and cloud consultants, and digital forensics professionals. Attendees will represent a wide range of sectors including banking and finance, energy, telecommunications, logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and consulting, making the conference an essential destination for knowledge-sharing and industry networking. Adding to the excitement, the Cyber Guardians of Oman Challenge 2025 will be held on the sidelines of the conference. This high-intensity Capture the Flag (CTF) competition will challenge participants in two phases – an online elimination round starts on July 3 and finale during the main event. The challenge aims to inspire, identify, and celebrate top cybersecurity talent in Oman. The event is being organised by Interactive Apex. For inquiries regarding partnerships, participation, or award nominations, one may contact [email protected] or call +968-9947 4314.
Zawya
23-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
MTCIT invites EOI to develop office software locally in Oman
Muscat – In an effort to enhance digital sovereignty and support technology localisation, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has invited expressions of interest (EOI) from local companies and investors to develop open-source office software. The ministry's Internal Investment Committee has called on Omani firms with expertise in software development to propose solutions for word processing, presentations and spreadsheets based on open-source platforms. The aim is to deploy these applications across government and institutional settings, meeting standard office software requirements. MTCIT said the government plans to sign a licensing agreement with the selected developer for a fixed term, as part of wider national efforts to build local technological capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign proprietary systems. Interested firms must submit a formal letter expressing their interest, along with a preliminary operational model of the proposed solution, company profile, commercial registration and valid business licence. A preliminary economic feasibility study and documents demonstrating experience and technical capability are also required. All submissions must be in PDF format and emailed to investment@ Submission deadline is July 20. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Muscat Daily
22-06-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
MTCIT invites EOI to develop office software locally in Oman
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – In an effort to enhance digital sovereignty and support technology localisation, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has invited expressions of interest (EOI) from local companies and investors to develop open-source office software. The ministry's Internal Investment Committee has called on Omani firms with expertise in software development to propose solutions for word processing, presentations and spreadsheets based on open-source platforms. The aim is to deploy these applications across government and institutional settings, meeting standard office software requirements. MTCIT said the government plans to sign a licensing agreement with the selected developer for a fixed term, as part of wider national efforts to build local technological capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign proprietary systems. Interested firms must submit a formal letter expressing their interest, along with a preliminary operational model of the proposed solution, company profile, commercial registration and valid business licence. A preliminary economic feasibility study and documents demonstrating experience and technical capability are also required. All submissions must be in PDF format and emailed to [email protected]. Submission deadline is July 20.
Muscat Daily
21-06-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman targets bigger AI role in economy with new initiatives
Muscat – Oman is taking steps to increase the contribution of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector to its national economy by expanding the number of specialised start-ups and boosting research and investment in the field. Hassan bin Fida Hussain al Lawati, Head of National Programme for AI and Advanced Digital Technologies at Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), said the programme benefits economic, development and service sectors, directly impacting citizens' quality of life. He said the programme aims to increase the number of technology companies specialising in AI by 20% each year. The number of such companies now exceeds 25, up from fewer than ten at the programme's launch last year. Cumulative investments in AI projects have reached about RO60mn over the last four years, with annual investment expected to grow by 20%. Hassan bin Fida Hussain al Lawati In September 2024, the Council of Ministers approved the National Programme for AI and Advanced Digital Technologies as part of a broader strategy built on three pillars, the first of which is promoting AI adoption in economic and development sectors. The second focuses on localising AI technologies and developing national expertise to position Oman as a technology producer. The third pillar governs AI and digital applications with a human-centred approach to ensure ethical and effective use under flexible laws. Lawati noted that Oman moved up five places in the Oxford Insight Government AI Readiness Index, ranking 45th globally out of 193 countries in 2024, compared to 50th in 2023. It ranks fifth in the Middle East and North Africa and fourth in the Gulf. Oman aims to join the world's top 30 countries in this field, he added. He further informed that MTCIT, in partnership with University of Technology and Applied Sciences, launched an initiative called AI Makers to encourage work in the field and reward top researchers, scientific papers and projects in AI. MTCIT also introduced a competition called 'Engineer it with AI' to support local development in generative AI, enhance national skills and encourage innovation. The contest aims to boost economic returns by helping new start-ups and raising national performance indicators. In addition, an initiative called Humanising AI has been launched to maintain a balance between technical progress and the human aspect of service delivery, ensuring inclusivity for all groups in society.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman to have centre of excellence for semiconductors
Muscat – The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has invited bids for consultancy services to help develop a national semiconductor ecosystem in Oman, including plans for a Centre of Excellence for Semiconductors and Electronic Chips. Specialised firms with experience in the semiconductor and electronic chip industry have been called to participate in the tender. The selected consultancy will advise on the creation of the centre and support wider efforts to position Oman as a regional player in this strategic sector. MTCIT said companies must demonstrate a strong track record in managing similar national and commercial projects in line with the scope outlined in the tender documents. The Centre of Excellence is central to the ministry's plan to strengthen Oman's place in the global semiconductor value chain. It will work to attract investments, support advanced chip design and manufacturing, and create high-skilled jobs in design, testing and research. The centre will also focus on technology transfer and localisation to build national capacity over the long term. Interested firms can register and purchase documents through the Tender Board's eTendering portal. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
