Latest news with #OmanObserver
Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Global newsrooms without borders
How AI is reshaping journalism In my fourteen years as a digital news editor at Oman Observer, following stints with Reuters and Times of India, I've witnessed numerous technological shifts. Yet none compare to the transformation brought about by artificial intelligence tools over the past year. What once required hours of manual curation, fact-checking, and formatting now happens in minutes, allowing our team to focus on deeper storytelling and audience engagement. This revolution isn't happening in isolation. Across the globe, major news organisations are reimagining journalism through a powerful combination of data analytics, cross-border collaboration, and AI-driven tools. The Rise of Borderless Newsrooms Reuters exemplifies this new paradigm with its Bangalore hub (where I worked for five years)—now its largest newsroom globally—serving as a centre for AI-driven journalism. This strategic approach enables 24/7 news coverage without requiring night shifts in any single location, whilst fostering specialised expertise centres that benefit the entire organisation. 'We're firmly committed to having the human in the loop to oversee any AI-assisted work,' explains Euan Rocha, Bangalore Bureau Chief at Thomson Reuters. This balance between technological advancement and editorial judgment resonates with my experience at Oman Observer, where we've embraced AI tools whilst maintaining rigorous editorial standards. Real-Time News Delivery Transformed The speed of news delivery has accelerated dramatically through AI integration. Reuters' Speed teams, which publish around 100,000 business news alerts each month, now use an AI tool called Fact Genie to scan documents in seconds and suggest newsworthy alerts. This allows journalists to publish first alerts within six seconds of receiving information—a game-changer for financial markets and breaking news. Other agencies have also implemented similar tools to help them process press releases and government statements more efficiently, ensuring our readers receive accurate information faster than ever before. The time saved allows journalists to conduct more interviews and provide deeper context—elements that AI cannot replicate. Cross-Functional Collaboration The Associated Press has demonstrated how larger organisations can share AI capabilities with smaller newsrooms through its Local News AI Initiative. Working with five local news organisations, AP developed customised solutions ranging from automated weather alerts to AI-assisted transcription of city council meetings. This collaborative approach extends beyond technology sharing. Reuters has pioneered 'pair prompting,' where journalists and data scientists work together to develop effective AI solutions. The result is technology that truly serves journalistic needs rather than forcing newsrooms to adapt to rigid systems. The Human Element Remains Essential Despite these technological advances, research consistently shows that human oversight remains paramount. The BBC's experience, documented by researchers embedded in their newsrooms, emphasises that AI tools require journalists to ensure accuracy—whether it's an AI-generated summary of a press conference or an analysis of a dataset. In my daily work overseeing social media content and video production, I've found that AI tools excel at generating initial drafts and identifying trending topics, but they cannot replace the editorial judgment that comes from years of journalistic experience and cultural understanding. The Future is Collaborative Looking ahead, the most successful news organisations will be those that embrace a borderless approach—where geographical boundaries become less relevant, information flows continuously, expertise is shared globally, and human judgment remains central. For editors like myself, this means continuing to adapt our skills whilst holding firm to the fundamental principles of journalism. The tools may change, but our commitment to accuracy, fairness, and meaningful storytelling remains constant in this new era of global newsrooms without borders.
Observer
5 days ago
- Sport
- Observer
Building Oman's sports economy from the ground up
In a recent article by Oman Observer about the Tejarah Talks podcast, Pankaj Khimji, Advisor for Foreign Trade & International Cooperation at MoCIIP, shared a thought that really stuck with me: 'Unless we develop our grassroots or sports culture, whether it's in schools, in the maydans, or on the beaches of Oman, unless we promote this in our families or schools, we're not going to be able to get into the real business of sports.' It's a powerful reminder. That quote—and the podcast episode as a whole—made me reflect on where we are as a country when it comes to sports. Yes, we're starting to attract major international events, but we must be equally ambitious in growing a culture of everyday sport and physical activity, especially for our children. In many ways, this reflects exactly what we try to do at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC). Of course, we're proud to host international competitions—whether it was the FIFA World Cup screenings in our gardens in 2022 or the World Veteran Table Tennis Championships in 2023. But just as important are the everyday experiences: each summer, we transform our exhibition halls into an indoor sports hub, offering people a fun and affordable space to stay active and beat the heat. Oman is naturally made for sports tourism. We've seen how our sister companies, like Oman Sail, are leading the way with events such as the upcoming World Sailing Inclusion Championships in 2025. But none of this happens in isolation. We need everyone—event organisers, schools, businesses, hospitality partners, and tourism boards—to come together to build something bigger. We're fortunate to have a landscape that many countries envy: dramatic mountains, open beaches, warm winds, and a year-round climate perfect for all kinds of activity. But to truly take advantage of this, we need to engage the most important player: our communities. Getting children into sport isn't just about fitness. It's about teamwork. It's about leadership. It's about learning to stay focused, persevere, and enjoy the journey. And ultimately, it's about making sport a bigger part of our national identity—an investment that also helps us attract global events. That's why initiatives like Sports Spark matter. If we want to see Omani athletes on international podiums—or see Oman feature more prominently on the global sports calendar—it all starts with access. It starts with a child picking up a racket or kicking a ball in a space that welcomes them. From July 18 to August 16, OCEC will once again open its doors for people to play, move, and connect—with summer camps for kids, corporate challenges, tournaments, and more. It's not just about putting on an event. It's about creating access, building habits, and helping people discover what sport can do for them—physically, mentally, and socially. So if you haven't looked into it yet, now's the time. You might just find that it changes more than your summer—it could change your daily routine.
Observer
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- Observer
A CEO's bold vision for innovation across sectors
MUSCAT, JUNE 15 'Leadership, to me, has always been about purpose, not position,' says Hilal al Sinani, CEO and Founder of Sur International Investment Group, as he reflects on a journey that has seen him build one of Oman's most dynamic and diversified enterprises. Al Sinani's philosophy is more than a slogan — it has shaped his company's growth across sectors as varied as marine services, electric vehicles (EVs), manufacturing and esports. From humble beginnings in marine technology to leading multi-sector innovation, his path has been defined by clarity of vision, resilience and a drive to empower others. In an interview with Oman Observer, Al Sinani shared how his desire to solve real-world problems and create opportunities for Omanis inspired the launch of Sur International Investment Group. 'I started with a vision to bridge industry gaps — first in marine technology and then in sectors like EVs and digital gaming. I wanted to build something that created value across multiple fronts — economic, social and technological.' One of the group's earliest milestones was the establishment of Marine Technology Co, which has grown into a trusted name in Oman's maritime sector. The recent award of a three-year Single Point Mooring (SPM) maintenance contract marks a major achievement for the company. 'It's a strong endorsement of our operational capability and reliability,' Al Sinani noted. Expanding into the electric vehicle space, Al Sinani has led the company in forging strategic partnerships with international firms in clean mobility. 'We are aligning ourselves with globally recognised names to introduce electric vehicle solutions that support Oman's energy transition,' he said. 'This isn't just about being in the EV business — it's about contributing to the nation's sustainability and industrial development.' Most recently, Al Sinani launched Nova Esports, a new platform under the Sur International umbrella, aimed at developing local talent in the global gaming ecosystem. 'Esports is not just entertainment — it's a fast-growing digital industry,' he explained. 'With Nova, we're giving young Omanis a chance to compete globally and build careers in the digital economy.' 'These achievements represent more than business success — they reflect our ability to adapt, lead change and invest in the future,' he said. But the path hasn't been without its trials. 'In the beginning, securing capital and winning trust in new industries was a real challenge,' Al Sinani recalled. 'We overcame this by being consistent, transparent and delivering results. Over time, trust followed.' Managing growth without sacrificing quality has also been key. 'Fast expansion can stretch a business thin, but we tackled that through strong internal systems and by empowering our teams to take initiative and ownership,' he said. Among his proudest moments, Al Sinani cites the group's move towards international marine certification and its high-level partnerships in the EV sector. 'But what truly matters to me is impact — when our platforms lead to job creation, skill-building and genuine opportunities for others, that's when I feel we've succeeded.' Central to Sur International Investment Group's growth is a strong organisational culture built on trust and innovation. 'Culture starts at the top,' Al Sinani emphasised. 'I believe in leading by example, promoting integrity and supporting a team that's empowered to think big and act boldly.' Looking ahead, Al Sinani sees Sur International Investment Group playing a transformative role in Oman and beyond. 'Whether in marine services, clean energy mobility, or digital platforms like esports, our ambition is to scale responsibly, build lasting partnerships and contribute to Oman Vision 2040 and youth development.' To future leaders, his message is clear: 'Stay grounded, be driven by purpose and never stop learning. Relationships, resilience and integrity will always matter more than the title on your door.' Despite overseeing a growing portfolio, Al Sinani is intentional about maintaining balance. 'It's a continuous process,' he said. 'I focus on wellness, time with family and trusting my leadership team. A well-balanced life makes for more effective leadership.' From the docks to the digital realm, Hilal al Sinani's story is a testament to Omani ambition — purposeful, forward-looking and deeply rooted in impact.
Zawya
12-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman enters delivery phase of Vision 2040
Muscat: Oman is shifting from strategic planning to full-scale implementation across critical sectors, signalling a new phase in the country's economic transformation under Vision 2040, officials and analysts say. Rather than : announcing new visions or frameworks, the government's current focus is on delivery capability — ensuring that policies translate into measurable results. A series of recently achieved milestones reflect not only policy ambition but also an evolving governance model aimed at synchronised execution across ministries, funds, and agencies. 'This is the most delivery-focused phase Oman has seen since the launch of Vision 2040,' a senior economic adviser told Oman Observer. 'You're witnessing the machinery of government pivot from design to delivery — and that is a fundamental shift.' The alignment between fiscal management, infrastructure development, and social protection reforms is becoming clearer. For instance, the improved sovereign credit rating (BB+ with Positive Outlook) follows closely after Oman recorded a budget surplus of RO 931 million and reduced public debt to RO15.1 billion — all pointing to tight coordination between the Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office, and national investment arms. Similarly, the operational launch of the Duqm Refinery, a keystone project under Oman's downstream strategy, came in tandem with the announcement of RO 1.6 billion in logistics and maritime investment opportunities. Analysts view this convergence as an indicator of delivery synchronisation across economic clusters. Nowhere is the integrated reform approach more evident than in the rollout of Oman's new Social Protection System, which merges pension schemes and unifies social assistance policies. This shift, led by the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Labour, represents one of the most complex institutional integrations in recent years. Meanwhile, SME inclusion has moved from rhetoric to quantifiable progress: 7% of total government contracts in 2023 — worth over RO 53 million — were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises. Crucially, these figures are being tracked in real time through digital platforms, allowing for better accountability and feedback. In agriculture, the sharp rise in cultivated land to 276,000 feddans and over 10% growth in output reflects not only increased funding but also operational improvements in how irrigation, land allocation, and agri-finance are coordinated. At Muscat International Airport, passenger traffic surpassed 11.5 million in 2023 — a post-pandemic high. But beyond the numbers lies a deeper transformation: the Civil Aviation Authority and Oman Airports are now aligned under a shared delivery framework, focusing on seasonal readiness, connectivity expansion, and aviation-linked tourism strategies. Policy coherence is increasingly embedded in delivery processes. 'The difference now is that ministries aren't just pushing their own initiatives — there's vertical and horizontal alignment,' noted a policy specialist from the Oman Vision 2040 Follow-up Unit. 'Delivery is becoming institutionalised.' This emerging delivery culture is being supported by new digital dashboards, key performance indicator (KPI) tracking systems, and inter-ministerial coordination units — tools rarely discussed in public discourse but critical to long-term success. While early gains are notable, sustaining this momentum requires institutional stamina, talent pipelines, and adaptive leadership. Oman's real test, experts argue, will be maintaining this delivery-driven mindset through leadership transitions, fiscal cycles, and global economic headwinds. As Oman moves deeper into the Vision 2040 implementation decade, the shift from what is planned to what is delivered may well determine the long-term credibility — and success — of its national transformation. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Gulf Insider
26-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Rules In Oman: TikTok Use, WhatsApp Calls Explained
Oman has introduced regulations for the use of VPNs and certain applications, such as WhatsApp calls and TikTok, in the country. According to a report from the Oman Observer, companies running these services can either collaborate directly with telecom providers or work through them, explained a top official from the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) during their annual media briefing on April 23. The TRA also emphasised that it does not directly ban these applications, but regulates their services through licensing and by encouraging local companies. Although TikTok is not banned in the country, user issues are attributed to technical reasons. Additionally, several TikTok users have started accessing the platform without a VPN. All decisions made by the TRA aim to balance economic considerations with the needs of those benefiting from these services. The country's laws are carefully developed, considering feedback from international companies offering these services. The community also has the opportunity to voice its opinion, the official added.
