Under the patronage of His Excellency Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Microsoft’s global AI Tour recently arrived in Muscat, marking a significant milestone in Oman’s digital transformation journey. The event brought together industry leaders, developers, and government officials to explore the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in driving digital innovation and economic growth within the Sultanate. The exclusive gathering served as a platform to showcase state-of-the-art AI solutions, illustrating how they empower organizations across diverse sectors to innovate, enhance operational efficiency, and unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth.

The event featured insightful keynotes from senior Microsoft executives, including Samer Abu-Ltaif, President of Microsoft Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); Charles Nahas, Regional General Manager for Commercial Solutions, Microsoft Middle East; and Harry Kambanis, Business Group Leader for Business Applications, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa. These leaders shared their vision for AI’s role in Oman’s future, emphasizing the pivotal impact of digital technologies on economic development and national progress. In his opening remarks, Samer Abu-Ltaif highlighted Oman’s commitment to technological advancement and Microsoft’s longstanding partnership with the nation, stating that the company’s presence in the Sultanate spans over two decades. He reiterated Microsoft’s unwavering dedication to supporting Oman’s Vision 2040 aspirations by delivering world-class cloud and AI solutions that enable Omani organizations to achieve more, fostering a future of sustainable growth and innovation.

Samer Abu-Ltaif emphasized the transformative role of AI in shaping Oman’s future, highlighting the nation’s strategic embrace of technological progress as a key driver of economic growth and national development. He expressed Microsoft’s commitment to empowering Omani organizations with advanced AI tools and cloud solutions, enabling them to navigate the evolving digital landscape and achieve greater efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness. He also underscored Microsoft’s ongoing collaboration with Omani entities, reflecting the company’s strategic vision to accelerate digital transformation and innovation across the Sultanate.

Sheikh Saif Hilal Al Hosni, Country Manager for Microsoft Oman and Bahrain, reinforced the growing recognition among Omani businesses of AI’s critical role as a driver of innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. He emphasized Microsoft’s leadership in empowering organizations across all industries to effectively leverage the latest advancements in AI, enabling them to overcome challenges and drive impactful business outcomes. Al Hosni highlighted the importance of strategic collaborations with leading Omani organizations, reflecting Microsoft’s commitment to equipping them with state-of-the-art AI and cloud solutions that shape the future of Oman’s digital economy. He also spotlighted successful implementations of Microsoft AI technologies that have significantly enhanced productivity, operational efficiency, and customer engagement for various Omani enterprises.

During his address, Al Hosni was joined by Ahmed Al Habib, Head of IT – PMO at Oman Housing Bank, who provided insights into the bank’s adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot. Al Habib detailed how the integration of this AI-powered solution has enhanced productivity, operational efficiency, and overall customer experience within the bank’s operations. Al Hosni expressed his gratitude to Microsoft’s strategic partners who supported the AI Tour in Muscat, including IITC, Netways, TeKnowledge, Wizard Cyber, Insomea, and Gulf Leaders Circle. He acknowledged their significant contributions to the event’s success and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration to accelerate AI adoption and innovation within Oman’s digital ecosystem.

The AI Tour in Muscat showcased transformative collaborations between Microsoft and key Omani organizations, highlighting their successful adoption of AI solutions to enhance operational efficiency and drive innovation. The Ministry of Education leveraged Microsoft AI technologies to deploy an advanced AI-powered chatbot, providing instant access to information for students, parents, and educators. The Ministry is also adopting Microsoft Copilot to empower teachers and students, enhancing teaching methodologies and learning experiences across educational institutions. The University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) integrated Microsoft Copilot to streamline the creation of course content and incorporated AI-powered agents within their Learning Management System, fostering an enhanced digital learning environment.

Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot to optimize operations and productivity. Prioritizing cybersecurity, Omantel leveraged Microsoft’s AI-powered Security solutions to protect its digital infrastructure against emerging cyber threats. OQ, a leading Omani energy company, integrated Microsoft 365 Copilot to improve productivity and operational efficiency. Additionally, OQ developed AI-driven solutions for candidate screening, streamlining recruitment processes and enhancing employee support. These strategic implementations underscore the growing importance of AI in driving digital transformation and operational excellence across Oman’s key industries.

A highlight of the event was the AI Excellence Awards, which celebrated Omani-based organizations that have successfully implemented AI solutions, leading to transformative improvements within their respective sectors. The awards recognized the Ministry of Education of Oman, National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Oman Housing Bank, Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), OQ SAOC, Renaissance Services SAOC, and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) for their significant contributions to AI deployment. These organizations were acknowledged for leveraging AI technologies to enhance productivity, operational efficiency, and customer engagement, driving innovation and digital transformation across Oman’s public and private sectors.

The Microsoft AI Tour also featured in-depth sessions on Microsoft’s flagship AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Agents. These tools are designed to revolutionize the workplace by enhancing productivity, creativity, and operational efficiency through seamless integration with Microsoft’s digital ecosystem. Attendees gained valuable insights into Responsible AI practices, reflecting Microsoft’s dedication to ethical and transparent AI usage. The event also showcased the innovative capabilities of the Microsoft Surface portfolio, including Surface AI PCs and Copilot+ PCs, which seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Copilot to boost productivity and operational efficiency. Business leaders and IT professionals experienced firsthand the transformative power of these AI-driven solutions, gaining practical insights into how they can drive organizational growth and success.

The Microsoft AI Tour in Muscat underscored the company’s unwavering commitment to fostering a thriving digital ecosystem in Oman. By empowering local businesses, government entities, and developers with advanced AI tools and cloud solutions, Microsoft aims to harness AI’s full potential to drive sustainable growth, innovation, and economic progress across the Sultanate. As AI continues to redefine industries and business landscapes, Microsoft remains dedicated to enabling Omani organizations to leverage cutting-edge technologies for enhanced productivity, competitive advantage, and digital transformation. The event served as a testament to the limitless possibilities of AI and its crucial role in shaping the future of Oman’s digital economy.