Oman is located on the south east of the Arabian Peninsula, bridging the gap between the Middle East and Western Asia. For this reason, the Sultanate has always been a connection for trading but more recently, this has begun to change.
Like most regions in the Middle East, Oman has had a long history in oil and gas but have now shifted their focus to technology and innovation, specifically artificial intelligence (AI).
How Is Oman Embracing AI?
In October 2022, the government announced the National Programme for AI and Advanced Digital Technologies. The objective of the initiative is to increase the digital economy’s contribution to Oman’s overall GDP. In 2021, their contribution sat at 2% but the program hopes to grow this to 10% by 2040.
This marks the government’s commitment to technological advancement and aims to integrate AI into daily life, especially when it comes to creating a conducive environment for new startups.
10 AI Startups In Oman
As the Sultanate dedicates itself to the development and incorporation of AI, plenty of startups in this space have emerged with AI at the forefront of their solutions. Let’s take a look at some of the top ones to watch.
1. iLab Marine
Founded in 2019, iLab Marine uses AI and IoT (Internet of Things) to drive sustainability and efficiency in day-to-day activities in the marine sector. This includes port logistics, environmental monitoring and maritime safety.
The company is the brains behind iFeed, an AI-powered automated feeding system that minimises waste in fish farming. iFeed has proven to reduce feeding waste by up to 18%. By leveraging AI technology, they are able to monitor data on water quality and fish behaviour in real-time.
In 2021, iLab Marine collaborated with Sultan Qaboos University to support sustainable research and development in the industry.
2. Sampo AI
Sampo AI uses artificial intelligence to help online stores to set smarter prices for their products. Launching just last year, the company specialises in e-commerce businesses across the Middle East and North Africa.
Taking into account factors like customer behaviours and competitor prices, their AI systems automatically generate the best prices for clients. With this AI knowledge, their clients can maintain a competitive edge while providing ideal prices for their customers.
The company works with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce and Magento to name a few. Earlier this year, they were able to secure $750,000 in funding which is the largest pre-seed round in Oman.
3. DarkSniper
DarkSniper is a cybersecurity company based in Oman’s capital, Muscat. Their AI-driven system monitors traffic on computer networks to identify suspicious activities that could signal threats like data breaches or ransomware, which could be detrimental for confidential business information.
These unusual activities can be responded to in real-time, helping businesses to mitigate any security incidents before they can cause major damage.
The company’s proactive approach to cybersecurity eliminates the need for businesses to manually their online activities, which gives them room to focus on other aspects of the business.
4. Ankaa
Ankaa is a technology company founded in 2024 that specialises in robotics, IoT solutions, AI and drone technology. The company has developed AI-powered systems to manufacture drones for urban planning and agricultural sectors. Their custom IoT solutions allow for monitoring devices in real-time.
They are set to make revolutionary waves in robotics and drones, already collaborating with world-renowned organisations like NASA. With their core mission of driving innovation in Oman’s tech landscape, they are helping other sectors with precision and productivity.
5. Skyfall AI
Founded in 2019, Skyfall AI is a technology company that collects and analyses vast amounts of data. This information is then used to build high-quality datasets that trains artificial intelligence models.
The company’s services include labelling data for AI to understand in addition to data collection and converting audio to text. These solutions are then able to create highly accurate AI systems that can be used in natural language processing and machine learning.
As businesses can develop AI solutions tailored to their specific needs, Skyfall AI is significantly contributing to the growth of AI in Oman and surrounds.
6. Oman Lens
Oman Lens is an aerospace tech company that specialises in manufacturing satellites with advanced AI capabilities. Within the next five years, the company plans to create twenty intelligent satellites that will address challenges across disaster management, urban planning and environmental monitoring.
In November last year, they launched OL-1 which is Oman’s first AI-enhanced satellite. OL-1 is able to capture and examine high-resolution images in real-time through its advanced sensors and AI computing. Going forward, the satellite will be used to identify changes in the environment and monitor infrastructure with precision and speed that is unprecedented.
7. ESBAAR
Founded in 2017, ESBAAR provides solutions that are powered by both commercial and industrial drones, machine learning and AI technology. These are beneficial to industries across mining, logistics, construction and security.
In 2021, the company was successful in using drones with magnetometers to find mineral deposits across Oman in difficult terrains. More recently, they partnered with Mazoon Electricity Company to test out drone technology for analysing electrical networks to assist with data quality and decision making.
8. GAIM
GAIM provides a range of AI-driven services from customised AI solutions and chatbot development to data engineering and automated document processing for multiple industries.
The company’s flagship product, Ghain, is an AI-powered personal assistant that can naturally engage in conversations with its users. Ghain is able to update users on new information surrounding laws and regulations, healthcare or any governmental services.
9. OSOS
OSOS is an enterprise software solutions provider that uses AI-driven applications to support EdTech, FinTech, HealthTech and PropTech to name a few. Their flagship product is OSOS ERP, a cloud-based solution that is able to streamline business processes for HR and finance.
The company’s ability to support a range of sectors through their specialised application cements their position as a technological innovator in Oman. At their core, OSOS aims to highlight the necessity of digital transformation and the role that AI plays in it.
10. Zumr
Zumr is a FinTech startup founded in 2022 that uses AI solutions to boost traditional methods of saving. The company has added smart technology to improve the Rotating Savings and Credit Associations to make it safer and more convenient for people to save money.
They have entered into a few collaborations, including with the National Bank of Oman to help residents secure their savings. Additionally, they also work with organisations such as Yango Oman to provide financial relief. By leveraging AI to make financial transactions simpler and safer, Zumr is ensuring financial inclusion for all in Oman.