MUSCAT : This progress reflects the expanding reach of Omani media content, rising engagement levels with digital platforms, and the ongoing enhancement of professional capabilities within the media sector.

These achievements align with the national approaches in the prosperous reigns of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, which are focused on accelerating digital transformation and building a diversified, knowledge driven economy in accordance with the strategic objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

The total video and audio plays on “Ayn” platform during 2025 reached 18,714,696, compared to 12,334,871 in 2024, representing a year on year increase of 35 percent. This upward trajectory underscores the steady expansion of the audience base for national digital content and the increasingly central role of digital platforms in delivering media and knowledge content to wider segments of society, amid rapidly evolving global patterns of media consumption.

The kid’s interface on “Ayn” platform — operational from its launch on 24 April 2025, through the end of the year — recorded approximately 763,982 video and audio plays. This figure includes 588,003 views of visual materials and 175,979 listens of audio content, signalling strong and growing demand for educational and entertainment media tailored to children.

In Oman Radio, cultural programs dominated the broadcast schedule on the general channel in 2025, registering the highest number of broadcast hours at 2,541 hours. Development oriented programs and materials ranked second with 2,120 hours. On Al Shabab “Youth” Radio, entertainment and artistic content captured the largest share of broadcast hours during 2025, totalling 4,136 hours, followed by cultural materials and programs with 2,020 hours. On the English language radio channel, entertainment and artistic programs led the broadcast lineup with 5,788 hours, followed by development focused programs with 1,360 hours.

In Oman TV, cultural programs topped the programming grid on the general channel in 2025, recording the highest number of broadcast hours at 3,206 hours. Entertainment and artistic programs came second with 2,672 hours.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information conducted 937 live and recorded external coverage operations during 2025, utilizing engineering transmission units and vehicles equipped with state of the art technologies.

In the domain of news production, the total volume of news items disseminated by Oman News Agency (ONA) in both Arabic and English during 2025 reached approximately 23,564 items, compared to 16,132 items in 2024, marking a substantial increase of 46 percent.

By the end of 2025, the website of Oman daily newspaper “Arabic” recorded 176.6 million visits, while the website of Oman Observer “English” recorded 98.4 million visits. The combined content published by the two newspapers totalled 19,830 pieces, comprising reports, surveys, investigative features, interviews, and journalistic analyses.

During 2025, the Ministry of Information approved 621 applications for the licensing of diverse media activities and issued 53 new licenses for artistic works. This expansion reflects the growing scope of media coverage of various development sectors across the Sultanate of Oman, including development initiatives and projects in the governorates. Such efforts are in direct support of the Royal directives of His Majesty the Sultan — which call for strengthening decentralization and empowering governorates to assume a greater role in leading local development.

The Ministry of Information’s official accounts on social media platforms continued to experience sustained growth in follower numbers, reaching a total of 7,218,298 followers during 2025, compared to 6,482,680 followers in 2024 — an increase of 11.3 percent.

In the context of developing national media competencies, the ministry implemented 172 training programmes during 2025, compared to 125 programmes in 2024, representing a growth rate of 37.6 percent. These programmes benefited 2,198 trainees, up from 1,834 trainees in the previous year. This notable expansion underscores the ministry’s firm commitment to upskilling national cadres and raising their professional and technical competence to keep pace with the fast evolving landscape of the media industry.

On the international front, the ministry extended invitations to 298 media professionals from various countries around the world to visit the Sultanate of Oman during 2025, compared to 208 such invitations in 2024. This initiative contributes meaningfully to introducing international media outlets to Omani accomplishments in development, culture, and tourism, while enhancing the Sultanate of Oman’s visibility on the global media stage.

In line with highlighting Oman’s cultural, enlightenment and civilizational role at both the regional and international levels, Nizwa Magazine, the quarterly cultural journal, continues its publications. By 2025, its content had reached 131 issues, encompassing a diverse range of dialogues, literary texts, scholarly studies, research, and rigorous articles contributed by 178 regular writers. Furthermore, the magazine has supported 69 books by Omani authors and translators up to its 126th issue in April 2026.

Taken together, these indicators reflect the continuous and accelerating development of the Omani media ecosystem under the national approaches championed by His Majesty the Sultan — toward building a modern, forward looking media sector grounded in digital innovation, improved content quality, and the empowerment of national talent.

Furthermore, these results affirm the expanding role of Omani media in accompanying the nation’s comprehensive development journey, highlighting national achievements and strengthening the Sultanate of Oman’s presence both regionally and internationally. This drive cements the status of media as a fundamental pillar of national development and a key enabler in realizing the strategic targets of Oman Vision 2040.

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