MUSCAT : Speaking at the latest edition of Tejarah Talks – held under the theme ‘Game On: The Potential of Oman’s Sports Economy’ – His Excellency highlighted the significant opportunity for Oman to capitalise on the current $583 billion global sports tourism market by leveraging its natural assets.

Organised by Oman Business Forum in association with the Ministry, the 70-minute discussion, held at the Civil Aviation Authority Training Centre, brought together key industry leaders to explore Oman’s potential within the $2.65 trillion global sports industry.

Alongside His Excellency Khimji, the panel featured Joe Rafferty, Events Director at Oman Sail, and Ali Al Ajmi, CEO of Sabco Sports, and was moderated by Jamal Al Asmi, Executive Producer at RealityCG.

The panellists delved into various facets of the sports economy, with Joe Rafferty emphasising the role of “public-private partnerships in developing world-class sports infrastructure,” and underscoring that “smart investment today = long-term economic returns tomorrow.”

Ali Al Ajmi further broadened the discussion, stressing the significant social impact of sports beyond mere economics. He stated that communities with strong sports infrastructure see better social outcomes and major healthcare cost reductions, emphasising that “sports isn’t just business it’s an investment in people.”

The Tejarah Talks session highlighted Oman’s inherent advantages, including its rich sporting heritage and unique natural environment, positioning it favourably to benefit from the rapidly expanding global sports economy. Discussions also touched upon the burgeoning eSports sector, valued at $6.6 billion, and the promising sustainable sports market, currently worth $26.2 billion and projected for significant growth as Oman pursues its 2050 Net Zero target.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.