Key Takeaways
- Omantel unveiled its AI Centre of Excellence on May 15, 2026, an integrated platform to accelerate AI adoption across industries.
- The centre combines advanced infrastructure, integrated data environments, operational expertise, and innovation capabilities for scalable AI implementation.
- A complementary AI Startups Program links technology startups (e.g., Decoil, Remedy, ORKI, DeepAstra, Wiya) with Omantel’s teams and real‑world settings to co‑create and scale commercially viable AI products.
- Both initiatives fall under Omantel’s “Everyone AI” strategy, aiming to drive practical, scalable AI adoption while nurturing an advanced digital ecosystem.
- CEO Aladdin Baitfadhil highlighted the vision of building an integrated innovation ecosystem that brings startups, expertise, and real‑world environments together to develop globally competitive digital products.
- Participating startups gain access to Omantel’s infrastructure, data, technical expertise, and regional/international partnerships, facilitating expansion into telecom, finance, energy, healthcare, and government sectors.
- The programmes reinforce Oman Vision 2040 by advancing emerging technologies and strengthening the country’s digital transformation agenda.
- Omantel leverages its telecommunications background to deliver cloud, AI, smart, cybersecurity, and other cutting‑edge ICT solutions.
- Media inquiries can be directed to Muna Al Maamri, Manager of Digital Press & Media, Omantel (tel +968 24242743, email [email protected]).
Launch of the AI Centre of Excellence
Omantel announced the launch of its AI Centre of Excellence on May 15, 2026, describing it as “an integrated platform designed to accelerate the adoption of advanced artificial intelligence technologies and support the transformation of promising ideas and applications into scalable digital products across multiple sectors.” The announcement, distributed via GlobeNewswire, positioned the centre as a cornerstone of the company’s ambition to lead Oman’s digital evolution.
Core Components of the AI Centre
The centre brings together “advanced infrastructure, integrated data environments, operational expertise, and innovation capabilities” to enable practical and scalable AI implementation. By unifying these elements, Omantel seeks to remove traditional barriers—such as data silos and limited compute resources—that often hinder AI projects from moving beyond pilot stages.
AI Startups Program Overview
As a key track of the centre, Omantel also launched the AI Startups Program, a strategic initiative focused on “connecting technology startups with Omantel’s internal teams and real operational environments to support the co‑creation and scaling of commercially viable AI products and solutions.” The program currently engages startups accelerated through Omantel Innovation Labs, including Decoil, Remedy, ORKI, DeepAstra, and Wiya.
Integration with the “Everyone AI” Strategy
Both the AI Centre of Excellence and the AI Startups Program form part of Omantel’s broader “Everyone AI” strategy, which “aims to enable the practical and scalable adoption of artificial intelligence applications, while supporting the development of an advanced digital ecosystem and creating tangible impact for customers, business sectors, and technology startups.” This holistic approach ensures that AI benefits permeate multiple layers of the economy.
CEO’s Vision Statement
Aladdin Baitfadhil, Chief Executive Officer of Omantel, commented on the launch, stating: “Omantel’s ‘Everyone AI’ strategy represents an ambitious vision to drive the practical and scalable adoption of artificial intelligence in a way that supports digital transformation and creates sustainable value. Through the AI Centre of Excellence and the AI Startups Program, we are building an integrated innovation ecosystem that brings together technology startups, operational expertise, and real-world implementation environments to accelerate the development of digital products capable of competing regionally and globally.” His remarks underscore the commitment to nurturing homegrown talent while leveraging global best practices.
Benefits for Participating Startups
Startups accepted into the program will benefit from Omantel’s “advanced infrastructure, integrated data environments, specialized technical expertise, and regional and international partnerships,” which collectively support product development and accelerate expansion into high‑growth markets. This access is intended to shorten the journey from experimentation to commercial viability, reducing time‑to‑market for AI‑driven solutions.
Target Sectors for AI Solutions
The initiative targets sectors including telecommunications, financial services, energy, healthcare, and government services. By focusing on these high‑impact areas, Omantel aims to demonstrate AI’s capacity to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and generate new revenue streams across the Sultanate’s economy.
Alignment with Oman Vision 2040
Through the AI Centre of Excellence and the AI Startups Program, Omantel continues to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and support technology entrepreneurship while reinforcing its role in enabling digital transformation and advancing emerging technologies in line with Oman Vision 2040. The programmes are positioned as tangible steps toward achieving the national agenda’s goals of a knowledge‑based economy and sustainable development.
Omantel’s Innovation Ecosystem and Track Record
Omantel has succeeded, through the integration of its operations, processes, and extensive expertise in communications and digital technology, in establishing its position as a leading telecommunications company within the Sultanate of Oman and beyond. The company’s innovative approaches have contributed to providing state‑of‑the‑art solutions to different consumer and business sectors, consistently striving to exceed customer expectations.
Cutting‑Edge ICT Portfolio and Future Outlook
To achieve the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, Omantel invests in emerging technologies and provides cutting‑edge ICT solutions such as cloud solutions, AI, Smart solutions, cybersecurity, and much more, in addition to harnessing its technological capabilities to enhance innovation and leadership in new and advanced technologies. The AI Centre of Excellence is expected to serve as a catalyst for further breakthroughs in these domains.
Media Contact and Resources
For media inquiries, contact Muna Al Maamri, Manager of Digital Press & Media, Omantel, at telephone +968 24242743 or email [email protected]. A photo accompanying the announcement is available at the GlobeNewswire attachment link provided in the release.
Conclusion
Omantel’s launch of the AI Centre of Excellence and the accompanying AI Startups Program marks a decisive step toward embedding artificial intelligence into the fabric of Oman’s economic landscape. By marrying robust infrastructure with vibrant startup talent and aligning these efforts with national strategic goals, Omantel not only strengthens its own market position but also contributes to the broader vision of a diversified, technologically advanced Sultanate. The initiative exemplifies how a telecommunications leader can evolve into a hub for AI‑driven innovation, setting a precedent for regional peers to follow.
https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/omantel-launches-ai-centre-excellence-082900511.html