MUSCAT: The report, titled ‘The Enormous Potential of Higher Education in the Sultanate of Oman’, was launched under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Khamis bin Saif Al Jabri, Chairman of Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, and in the presence of Her Excellency Prof. Rahma Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, at the Modern College of Business and Science.

The report highlights Oman’s emergence as an international hub for higher education and scientific research.

One of the report’s key findings is a significant 36.9 percent increase in research output in 2024 compared to the previous year, reflecting the country’s growing academic and scientific influence.

Dr. Maryam bint Balarab Al Nabhani, Director General of Private Universities and Colleges, noted that Oman Vision 2040 has placed education, learning, scientific research, and national capacity-building at the core of the nation’s development agenda. She emphasized that these areas are essential for building a competitive and sustainable knowledge-based economy.

Dr. Al Nabhani also shared that the Vision includes an ambitious goal: to have four Omani universities ranked among the world’s top 500 in the QS World University Rankings by 2040. The latest QS World Rankings for 2026 already show notable progress, with five Omani universities included, up from just two in the 2025 edition.

She explained that three private universities entered the global classification for the first time, namely: Nizwa University (ranked in the 761–770 category), Dhofar University (851–900 category), and the German University of Technology (1001-1200 category).

Sultan Qaboos University advanced significantly, climbing to 334th globally, up from 362nd in 2025. Sohar University also achieved a major improvement, moving from the 1001–1200 range to the 951–1000 category.

Dr. Al Nabhani attributed these advancements to a national strategic approach focused on improving educational quality, supporting research and innovation, and aligning institutional performance with international standards—especially QS criteria, which include academic reputation, research output, graduate employability, international collaboration, and the percentage of international students.
The QS report serves as a strategic reference for promoting higher education in Oman on the global stage. Dr. Al Nabhani stressed its importance in positioning the Sultanate as a regional and international leader in education and research, in line with Vision 2040.

Dr. Musa bin Abdullah Al Kindi, Dean of the Modern College of Business and Science, described the release of the report as a pivotal milestone in documenting the transformation of Oman’s higher education landscape. He noted that the college’s participation in the project aligns with its mission to support national development through academic excellence, research, and innovation.

He added that the progress toward achieving Oman Vision 2040’s goals underscore the value of international partnerships in boosting the global presence of Oman’s education sector and achieving institutional excellence.