Muscat: The event shed light on investment opportunities, business strategies, and the adoption of digital-first solutions as essential tools for the nation’s progress.

One of the event’s highlights was the panel discussion, “How AI is Reshaping Oman’s Digital Journey,” moderated by Tomy Bosco, Partner & Business Area Director at Nortal. Industry leaders and experts delved into the transformative role of artificial intelligence across various sectors, particularly oil and gas, digital infrastructure, and education.

Saud Al Zakwani, Head of Digital Transformation at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), underscored the critical need for digital transformation:

“Digital transformation in every sector is a foundational pillar. Without it, you’ll be left behind—and completely out.”

He detailed PDO’s investments in AI, from training data scientists to equipping employees with AI knowledge through tiered programs, ensuring AI integration across the organization. Relying on AI for augmentation, Saud pointed out how AI will soon make a lot of simpler tasks obsolete, which was observed when the world was weary of the Internet but has now embraced it, making it a key pillar of progress.

Dr. Vallavaraj Athinarayanan, Dean of the College of Advanced Technology, highlighted AI’s role in reshaping the workforce:

“AI is not a threat but an opportunity to create new jobs. In the future, skillsets, not degrees, will dominate job markets.”

He shared key pointers on how AI is now part of Oman’s higher education curriculum agenda, which will promote AI literacy and will eventually lead to more opportunities one that doesn’t see AI as a threat but as an essential tool to drive key changes across the globe, especially in Oman.

Masoud Al Rawahi, CEO of PhazeRo, emphasized Oman’s alignment with global AI trends, noting its expansion into diverse sectors. He also cited a groundbreaking AI application in healthcare that earned international recognition, which few years back would have been deemed impossible. With more AI applications being tested out in the medical field, he looks ahead with a positive outlook.

“Trends of AI in Oman is globally matched. Small organisations have moved their AI strategies from a ground level to all sectors of an organisation,” he said.

Eugen Comendant, CCO of Awasr Telecom, pointed out challenges in deploying advanced AI in telecom due to restrictions on data transfer. He advocated for developing local data centers to overcome these limitations, leveraging Oman’s cost-effective electricity production as a competitive advantage.

“We in telecom, we have limitations and hence we can’t use highly complex AI because it requires data to leave Oman which is not allowed. If AI has to evolve, Oman has to take a vision of developing data centres in Oman,” he said.

The fourth edition of the TAS Conclave served as a roadmap for Oman’s digital transformation, blending innovation with sustainability to shape the nation’s future