The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) of Oman has launched the Hadatha Cybersecurity Industry Centre in partnership with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), as part of the country’s national strategy to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities and build a domestic cyber industry.
The announcement was made in Muscat and presided over by H.E. Dr. Ali bin Amer Al-Shidhani, Under-Secretary for Communications and Information Technology at MTCIT, alongside H.H. Sayyid Dr. Fahd bin Al Julanda Al Said, Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University.
The new centre will focus on research, innovation and product development in cybersecurity, with a goal to localise technological solutions, train national talent and encourage private-sector collaboration. The initiative is part of Oman’s digital transformation agenda under its broader Vision 2040 economic framework.
According to the ministry, the facility will bring together government, academia and industry stakeholders to develop advanced solutions in threat detection, malware analysis, network monitoring and AI-driven cyber defence. The centre will also serve as a training ground for Omani professionals to strengthen the country’s capacity in cybersecurity operations.
MTCIT said the launch aims to position Oman as a regional hub for cybersecurity innovation. The ministry cited the global cybersecurity market’s growth trajectory, expected to exceed US$500 billion by 2030, up from about US$246 billion in 2024.
The initiative aligns with Oman’s broader efforts to secure its digital infrastructure and attract technology investments in fields such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cyber-resilience.
Hadatha Centre to drive Oman’s cybersecurity innovation and research