MIUSCAT : The shift follows the implementation of the Social Protection Law, which redefined the concept of protection to cover every stage of life – from childhood to old age – and introduced programmes addressing retirement, job termination, maternity, disability, income support for low-income families, and savings.

The Social Protection Fund (SPF) is leading this transformation through a strategic framework aligned with Oman’s national social protection policy. Its objectives include providing fair and adequate insurance coverage, building a unified and sustainable protection system, enhancing resource management, and investing funds to secure strong returns while maintaining acceptable risk levels. The Fund also aims to strengthen savings tools and support programs, ensuring that all protection, empowerment, and inclusion initiatives are effectively monitored and evaluated.

The Royal Decrees 50/2023 and 52/2023 established a unified national framework under the Social Protection Fund, consolidating 11 pension funds into a single institutional entity. This merger marks a major milestone in ensuring fairness, improving benefit distribution, and aligning the system with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.

The integrated system now serves more than 3.3 million citizens and residents, with over 600,000 insured individuals, 121,000 active pensions, and more than 1,030,000 non-Omani insured persons under the maternity leave branch.

The Fund’s 2024–2025 strategic direction – which has achieved more than 90% completion – focuses on four pillars: Social protection, Financial sustainability, Governance and institutional excellence, and Technology and innovation.

The Fund is also preparing its 2026–2030 strategic plan, emphasizing innovation, partnerships, institutional efficiency, and maximizing investment returns to build a modern, sustainable protection system aligned with global best practices.

The Social Protection Fund has made substantial progress in digital transformation during 2025, achieving 78% automation of services, 89% electronic integration with government and private entities (surpassing the 70% target), 83% beneficiary satisfaction (exceeding the 65% target), and 100% achievement in open data initiatives.

Key digital initiatives include:
• Launching the “Protection” app (phases 1 and 2)
• Operating Manjam Labs for service innovation
• Eliminating 100% of manual services
• Establishing dedicated divisions for AI and emerging technologies
• Signing three major digital transformation agreements during Comex
• Cooperating with Gartner on the Emerging Technologies Observatory (2025–2027)
• Implementing proof-of-concept AI and low-code software projects
• Launching the first phase of an upgraded call center
• Completing data encryption and standardizing data classification
• Achieving 80% completion in data correction following the pension fund merger

Domestically, the SPF has pursued institutional development through initiatives such as the Internal Change Management Project, the Delegation of Powers Matrix, and national media programs supporting public understanding of the Social Protection Law. The Fund has also enhanced its communication strategy to strengthen public engagement and transparency.

Service outlets have been redesigned to become more accessible and human-centered, earning the Fund several national and international awards, including recognition for customer-centric practices and institutional excellence in 2024.

The Fund is preparing to relocate to a new headquarters designed to support a modern, efficient, and employee-friendly working environment.

Oman has secured a prominent position regionally and internationally through the Fund’s active participation in global forums. The Sultanate, represented by the Social Protection Fund, won the main award from the International Social Security Association (ISSA) for best practices in the Asia-Pacific region—one of the highest honors in the field.

The Fund also received eight Certificates of Merit, including special commendations for the Internal Change Management Project; integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards in investments; and the Media Preparation Program for the Social Protection Law.

Additionally, the Fund took part in major conferences, including the Innovation in Social Protection Systems Conference hosted in Oman, attended by over 150 international experts. UN and ILO representatives praised Oman’s systems as a leading regional model.

The Fund has also strengthened cooperation with UNICEF, the International Labour Organization, and regional bodies to enhance social programs, particularly for children and low-income families.
At the World Social Security Forum 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, the Social Protection Fund received three certificates of excellence from ISSA for its adherence to guidelines on compliance and contributions, service quality, and human resources management.

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