Wednesday 19 / November / 2025
Muscat: The initial five-year phase of Oman's Vision 2040 has culminated in the realization of over one hundred distinct national accomplishments spanning its four fundamental pillars.
According to data released by the Vision's implementation tracking unit, this period witnessed the execution of hundreds of strategic projects, initiatives, and programs that have tangibly advanced the nation's developmental priorities. These wide-ranging endeavours are framed within four core pillars: Society and People; Economy and Development; Environment and Sustainability; and Governance and Institutional Performance.
The tangible outcomes of these national projects are manifested through enhanced services—including modern schools, hospitals, road networks, and public facilities—that collectively elevate living standards across every governorate.
They have fostered a more diversified economic landscape, driven by strategic investments and new opportunities that stimulate nationwide growth. Significant progress is also evident in environmental sustainability, supported by green initiatives that preserve natural ecosystems while contributing to economic value.
A comprehensive digital transformation has streamlined governmental transactions, making them more accessible and transparent. Furthermore, these years have showcased inspiring narratives of individual achievement, highlighting citizens who exemplify national values of creativity and dedication.
The Society and People pillar has served as the foundational cornerstone for numerous initiatives targeting educational advancement, national capacity-building, a world-class healthcare system, strengthened national identity, and a robust social welfare framework that ensures a dignified life for all citizens.
Within education, a radical transformation is underway across both general and higher education. From 2021 to 2025, 188 schools were constructed or refurbished, a comprehensive plan to digitize curricula for grades 1-12 was implemented, and the 'Noor' e-learning platform was launched, providing high-quality, interactive digital educational content accessible to students from any location.
The initial phase has integrated 140 schools. A vocational and technical education track for grades 11-12 has also been initiated across nine specializations, including Business Administration and Information Technology in Muscat and North Al Batinah, and Travel and Tourism in Dhofar and A’Dakhiliyah.
In higher education, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences was established through the consolidation of technical colleges, colleges of applied sciences, and A’Rustaq College of Education. The university now serves over 48,000 students across 11 branches and offers 48 academic specializations.
The innovation sector recorded notable achievements, including the founding of the Industrial Innovation Academy, which comprises six strategic programs. Over three years, 360 young Omanis have qualified as "Industrial Innovation Specialists," with more than 40 national factories and companies benefiting from the Academy's services.
Healthcare infrastructure witnessed substantial development with the opening of Al Mazyunah Hospital in Dhofar and the construction of three new hospitals: the new Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah, A’Suwaiq Hospital, and Khasab Hospital, alongside the expansion of Sohar Hospital. These facilities add over 1,800 hospital beds at a construction cost exceeding RO 300 million.
The past five years also saw the establishment of the University Medical City, the Medical City for Military and Security Services, the Central Public Health Laboratory, and several private hospitals, including Oman International Hospital and Al Saada Hospital. New cardiac catheterization units became operational at Sohar and Nizwa hospitals, an Intravenous Solution Preparation Unit was created at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, the Muscat Recovery Center was established, and several pharmaceutical factories were launched to localize drug manufacturing, meet domestic demand, and boost non-oil exports.
The health sector achieved remarkable medical milestones performed by national medical teams, including the separation of conjoined twins, a heart transplant from a brain-dead donor, a tumor resection using an awake craniotomy technique, and a cochlear implant for a nine-week-old infant.
Cultural development under the Welfare and Social Protection priority included the establishment of the Oman Cultural Complex in Muscat, the Oman Maritime History Museum in the Wilayat of Sur, the Oman Across Ages Museum in the Wilayat of Manah, the Oman's Glories Museum in the Wilayat of Sohar, the Fateh Al Khair Center in Sur, and the Bisya and Salut Visitor Center in the Wilayat of Bahla.
Several international cultural events promoted messages of peace and coexistence from Oman to the world, including the 'Oman Corner' at the Hermitage Museum in Russia, featuring 28 artifacts reflecting Oman's ancient heritage. The "Message of Peace from the Sultanate of Oman" exhibition was displayed at over 136 global locations, with its materials translated into 29 languages.
Social initiatives featured the creation of the Social Protection Fund, serving over 1.45 million beneficiaries by August 2025, with 598,000 actively insured Omanis. The National Autism Center was established to provide high-quality rehabilitation and therapy from childhood through adulthood, currently serving 222 individuals with autism spectrum disorder through various local and international partnerships.
The Economy and Development pillar concentrated on building a prosperous, diversified, and sustainable economy, stimulating private investment, and fostering inclusive growth across all governorates. Economic diversification efforts featured new mining projects such as the Al Shuwaimiyah Metal Industries project in Shaleem and the Halaniyat Islands, targeting 40 million tons annually of limestone, gypsum, and dolomite; the Silica Sand project; Al Washihi Mine; Al Ghizain Mine; and copper and gold exploration in Block 10 in the Wilayat of Yanqul, alongside the redevelopment of the Al Aseel and Al Bayda copper mines.
The heavy and medium industries sector celebrated major milestones, including the inauguration of Duqm Refinery in 2024 with an initial capacity of 230,000 barrels per day, later increased to 255,000 bpd in 2025. Other significant projects launched include the Salalah Ammonia Plant (365,000 metric tons annually), Karwa Motors factory in the Wilayat of Duqm, a Vanadium and Niobium Ingots factory supplying international markets, a Metallurgical Silicon plant, and an Aluminium Wheel plant in Sohar (1.2 million wheels annually in its first phase). Intaj Suhar for Advanced Manufacturing was also established, focusing on reverse engineering, mold manufacturing, and precision tools.
Upcoming industrial projects include the Polyacrylamide plant in Sohar—the world's second-largest polymer production facility with an investment exceeding RO 115.3 million—and the Mawarid Turbine factory in Duqm for wind turbine components (1,000 MW annual capacity). An Iron Ore Concentrate plant in Sohar is expected to commence operations in 2027.
Infrastructure development under the Oman Vision 2040 included the 725-km Rub' al-Khali Road, the 71-km Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road (Diba-Lima-Khasab, 48% complete as of June 2025), and the 27-km Rusa'il-Nizwa Road expansion. The Asyad Container Terminal opened in Duqm, and the Hafeet Railway Company—a joint Omani-Emirati venture—established a 238-km line linking Abu Dhabi and Sohar with a 100-minute travel time.
Tourism projects like the Yiti Sustainable City and the 3-km Muttrah Cable Car, expected to operate in Q1 2026, aim to enhance visitor experiences. Food security initiatives included an Omani Abalone Aquaculture project in Mirbat (600 tons annually), a Natural Shrimp Aquaculture project (4,000 tons annually), and an Omani Wheat Production project in Najd (10,000 tons from over 6,000 acres).
Concurrently, national capacity-building programs like the Training Linked with Replacement or Employment project, the National Integrated System for Capacity Building and Talent Management, and the "Tawteen" platform were launched to prepare Omani talent for new economic opportunities.
The "Invest Oman" lounge and the "Oman Business Platform" facilitate foreign investment, offering programs like Investor Residence and Golden Residence. The Future Fund Oman, capitalized at RO 2 billion, allocates 90% to major projects and 10% to SMEs, while the Omani Promising Start-ups Programme fosters entrepreneurship.
Urban development milestones include the 'Surouh' project, developing 18 residential neighborhoods with 9,950 housing units, and Sultan Haitham City, spanning 14.8 million square meters to accommodate 100,000 residents. The Etlaq Spaceport stands as the first commercial spaceport in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Environment pillar prioritized natural resource sustainability through initiatives like the National Strategy for Carbon Neutrality, encompassing 212 projects and initiatives until 2025. Hydrogen Oman “Hydrom” company was established to oversee the green hydrogen sector. Renewable energy projects advanced, including the 100 MW Amin Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant, the 25 MW Qabas Sohar solar project, the 500 MW Ibri (2) Solar Power Station, and the Sur Solar-powered Water Desalination Plant, serving over 600,000 people.
The Rima station treats over 60,000 cubic meters of oil-produced water daily, while the Manah 1 and Manah 2 stations (1,000 MW total), the Ja'alan Bani Bu Ali wind project (95-105 MW), the Dhofar 2 Wind Power Plant (50 MW), and other wind projects in Mahout, Duqm, and Sadah (exceeding 1,000 MW combined) further diversify the energy mix.
Green industry projects include the Vulcan Green Steel plant and Vale Global Iron Complex in Duqm, plus a Waste-to-Energy project in Barka. Green tourism expanded with five new nature reserves, bringing the total to 31 reserves and 33 environmental sites. The Botanic Garden in A’Seeb—the largest in the Arab world—houses a database of 1,200 rare and endangered Omani plant species and over 40 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants. The Royal Razat Farm tourist path in Salalah and the Duqm Special Economic Zone nursery, planting 5,000 trees, further promote environmental awareness.
The "Green Mobility" initiative, led by the National Green Transport Company, established an integrated electric transport system aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by 4.6 metric tons per vehicle. The ship recycling project, the first in the Gulf, converts end-of-life vessels into reusable materials using eco-friendly methods, while the clean energy project for ships at Sohar Port and new dams in multiple governorates enhance environmental sustainability and flood protection.
The Governance and Institutional Performance pillar strengthened regulatory systems to bolster public trust in the judiciary through the Judicial Inspection Bylaw, the establishment of the Investment and Commerce Court, and a reduction in appeal processing time from 186 days in 2023 to 136 days in 2024. Remote litigation via video conferencing was implemented, the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Agreement for anti-corruption enforcement was signed, and the "Qadhaa" e-portal was launched for electronic judicial services.
Government performance was enhanced through the "Tajawob" platform for citizen feedback and the Unified National Portal for Electronic Government Services, which processed 14.5 million digital transactions in the first quarter of 2025. The " Wosool" system has over 17,000 active users, and 267 government services are fully automated. The Government Projects Regulation Bylaw and Government Projects Management Guide were applied to improve oversight, implementation efficiency, and optimal use of public resources.
