Strategic airport location for Oman’s AI Special Zone
MUSCAT: A prime site adjacent to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) headquarters near Muscat International Airport has been selected to host Oman’s newly established Artificial Intelligence Special Zone, according to Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ).
Confirmation of the location was disclosed in the latest edition of Duqm Economist, OPAZ’s quarterly publication, marking the first official indication of where the landmark technology zone will be developed.
According to Al Yousef, the AI Special Zone will occupy approximately 104,000 square metres in the Wilayat of Seeb, Muscat Governorate, close to the Civil Aviation Authority building. The location was chosen to maximise integration with existing transport, digital and logistics infrastructure while enhancing the zone’s attractiveness to international investors.
Established under Royal Decree No. 50/2026, the Artificial Intelligence Special Zone is intended to accelerate innovation, foster an integrated digital economy and support economic diversification goals outlined in Oman’s Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).
The digital economy is projected to achieve an average annual growth rate of 10.8 per cent at constant prices during the plan period, with its contribution to gross domestic product expected to reach around 4.2 per cent, underscoring its growing role as a key pillar of national economic growth.
The Board of Directors of OPAZ has been tasked with appointing the entity responsible for developing, operating and managing the zone in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. The arrangement is intended to ensure institutional coordination while creating an investment environment conducive to advanced technology industries.
Al Yousef said the new zone will operate under Oman’s Special Economic Zones and Free Zones Law, enabling investors to benefit from a comprehensive package of incentives, exemptions and facilitation measures designed to attract leading international technology companies.
Priority sectors will include artificial intelligence, semiconductors and robotics, while closer integration with Oman’s existing economic zones is expected to strengthen supply chains and foster stronger linkages between technology industries and other productive sectors.
OPAZ, working jointly with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, is also preparing a comprehensive implementation and operational roadmap for the project. The framework will define governance arrangements, institutional responsibilities, investment-friendly policies and performance indicators to measure the zone’s economic and developmental impact while ensuring alignment with national priorities.
Manal bint Hamid al Abri, Director of Investment Contracts and Agreements at OPAZ, said the zone is being designed as a fully integrated innovation ecosystem supporting every stage of technology development, from research and development through commercialisation and operations. In addition to artificial intelligence, it will target semiconductors, robotics, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity and data centres, positioning Oman as a regional hub for advanced digital industries and innovation-driven investment.
