Microsoft’s global AI Tour arrived in Muscat on Thursday, bringing together industry leaders, developers, and government officials to explore the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in accelerating Oman's digital transformation. 

 

The exclusive event spotlighted cutting-edge AI solutions that are enabling organisations across industries to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and unlock new opportunities for economic growth.

 

The event featured keynotes by senior Microsoft executives including Samer Abu-Ltaif, President, Microsoft Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA); Charles Nahas, Regional General Manager for Commercial Solutions, Microsoft Middle East; and Harry Kambanis, Business Group Leader, Business Applications, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

 

Abu-Ltaif emphasised the pivotal role of AI in shaping Oman's future. “It is a privilege to be here today in Oman, a nation that has long embraced technological progress as a driver of economic growth and national development. Microsoft's presence in the Sultanate spans over two decades, a testament to our enduring commitment to this nation's growth and prosperity. As Oman advances towards its Vision 2040 aspirations, our mission remains steadfast: to provide world-class cloud and AI solutions that enable Omani organisations to achieve more, fostering a future of sustainable growth and innovation.”

 

Sheikh Saif Hilal Al Hosni, Country Manager, Microsoft Oman and Bahrain, stated: “Businesses in Oman are increasingly recognising AI as a critical driver for innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. At Microsoft, we are at the forefront of empowering organizations across all industries to effectively leverage the latest advancements in AI to tackle existing challenges and drive real business impact. Our ongoing collaborations with leading Omani organizations reflect our commitment to equipping them with world-class AI and cloud solutions to shape the future of Oman’s digital economy.” 

 

Al Hosni was joined on the stage by Ahmed Al Habib, Head IT – PMO, Oman Housing Bank, who spotlighted how the organisation has adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance productivity and efficiency across the bank’s operations. 

 

Al Hosni concluded his address by thanking Microsoft’s partners supporting the ‘Microsoft AI Tour in Muscat’ event, especially IITC, Netways, TeKnowledge, Wizard Cyber, Insomea, and Gulf Leaders Circle. He also expressed his hope for continued collaboration in driving AI adoption and innovation within the Sultanate.

 

The AI Tour also highlighted Microsoft’s collaborations with key Omani organisations that are leveraging AI to enhance operations and drive innovation.

 

The AI Tour in Muscat also celebrated local innovation through the AI Excellence Awards. Recognising Omani-based organizations that have implemented successful AI solutions, the awards spotlighted the achievements of the Ministry of Education of Oman, National Centre for Statistics and Information of Oman (NCSI), Oman Housing Bank, Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), OQ SAOC, Renaissance Services SAOC, University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS). Each organization was acknowledged for their significant contributions to AI deployment, which has led to transformative improvements across their respective sectors.

 

The event also featured in-depth sessions covering Microsoft’s flagship AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Agents, designed to revolutionise the workplace and improve productivity.  – TradeArabia News Service