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Oman is developing its first specialised economic zone dedicated to Artificial Intelligence, with the project expected to attract investments of around RO106 million( US $ 275 million).
The AI-focused Special Economic Zone( SEZ) will be developed in three phases across approximately 104,000 square metres near Muscat International Airport, supporting Oman’ s broader strategy to build a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy.
Dr Siham bint Ahmed Al Harthi, Chairperson of Afouq Investment and Development United, the developer and operator of the zone, said construction of the first phase is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The zone will feature business incubators and accelerators, prototyping and robotics laboratories, industrial automation hubs, a dedicated research and application centre, a data centre and cloud computing infrastructure. Training and event facilities are also planned.
Discussions are under way with leading international universities to establish a specialised university focused on AI technologies within the zone.
Afouq is also in discussions with global technology companies, including Microsoft and IBM, while exploring partnerships with local and international investment funds and companies.
Investors are expected to benefit from incentives available through Oman’ s Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, including tax exemptions and 100 % foreign ownership.
The development aims to establish a regional hub for innovation, scientific research and the localisation of advanced technologies. It will also focus on helping Omani start-ups scale through dedicated growth programmes, with the ambition of developing billion-dollar‘ unicorn’ companies.
The initiative supports Oman Vision 2040, which aims to increase the digital economy’ s contribution to the country’ s GDP to approximately 10 % by 2040.
OMAN
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority( TDRA) has granted Starlink Satellite Communications a 10-year General Space Services Licence, authorising the company to establish, operate and manage a public satellite communications network and provide broadband satellite internet services across the UAE.
The licence marks an important milestone in the UAE’ s regulatory framework for satellite communications services, adding a space-based layer to the country’ s national digital infrastructure to complement terrestrial fibre-optic and 5G networks.
The move is expected to diversify internet access options while enhancing the resilience, readiness and continuity of the national network under different conditions. It will also support critical sectors including maritime and aviation transport, energy, logistics and emergency response.
From a regulatory perspective, the licence reflects TDRA’ s approach to adopting a flexible and forward-looking framework that embraces emerging technologies, expands user choice and connectivity options and promotes competition.
The authority expects the move to contribute to service quality, improve customer experience and strengthen the continuity of telecommunications services. It also reinforces the UAE’ s position as an attractive destination for global satellite system operators, supporting the objectives of the UAE Digital Agenda and the‘ We the UAE 2031’ vision.
The scope of the licence extends beyond individual consumers to businesses and government entities, as well as satellite connectivity services for the maritime and aviation sectors, in accordance with the UAE’ s approved regulatory and technical frameworks.
This is expected to further enhance the strategic and economic significance of satellite connectivity while broadening its impact across key sectors of the UAE economy.
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