Oman joins Global AI Governance Group to shape standards
Oman becomes founding member of Global Cooperation Organization for AI, advancing its national strategy for technology sovereignty and local AI development.
Oman commits to global AI governance framework
Oman signed the agreement establishing the Global Cooperation Organization for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Shanghai, joining 28 other countries. The move formalizes its role in shaping international standards for AI development and governance, aligning with its national strategy to build a knowledge-based digital economy.
Phase one: Building foundations (2021-2025)
The first phase of Oman's National Artificial Intelligence Programme focused on three pillars: sector-wide AI adoption, technology localization, and governance frameworks. Key outputs included Mu'een (Oman's first generative AI model trained on 3,000 local datasets), the Artificial Intelligence Studio (hosting 100+ advisory sessions), and the Green AI Alliance promoting sustainable development. Government institutions collaborated with 60 agencies to develop these initiatives.
Phase two targets technology sovereignty (2026-2030)
The program's next phase shifts from adoption to indigenous capability building. Priorities include:
Industry integration of AI
High-performance computing expansion
Quantum computing investment
Enhanced development of the Maeen language model
Hassan Fida Al Lawati of Oman's Transport Ministry confirmed these goals will advance technological self-sufficiency while generating economic value.
Governance challenges in fast-moving field
Dr. Saeed Al Kalbani, an AI researcher, notes existing regulations struggle to match AI's rapid evolution. Oman's participation in the global body lets it contribute local experience to standard-setting rather than just adopting external rules. He advocates continuous governance evolution through implementation feedback, not just legislation.
Measuring institutional readiness
Al Kalbani proposes a national AI maturity framework assessing:
Leadership capacity
Skills pipelines
Data governance
Risk management
Such metrics would strengthen Oman's evidence-based policy proposals in international forums.
Cross-border collaboration necessities
Communications expert Saleh Al Khaldi emphasizes that AI challenges like algorithmic bias and cybersecurity require multinational cooperation. Oman's geographic position and digital transformation strategy position it as a potential regional hub for such dialogue.
Trust as adoption prerequisite
Dr. Rami Shaheen of the Global AI Award stresses independent evaluation labs and impact assessments as critical for building public confidence in AI systems - a prerequisite for widespread implementation.
Action point: Track Oman's National AI Programme implementation reports for measurable progress on computing infrastructure development and local research outputs through 2030.
