SAP yesterday brought together government leaders, senior business executives and technology experts at SAP Connect Day Oman as organizations across the Sultanate look to turn national AI ambition into measurable outcomes across their operations.
The event took place as Oman accelerates its economic diversification and digital ambitions under Oman Vision 2040. Figures announced by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in January 2026 showed that the overall performance of the Government Digital Transformation Program rose from 73% at the end of 2024 to 94% at the end of 2025. The Sultanate also attracted OMR 1.2 billion in communications and information technology investment during 2025, including approximately OMR 65 million invested in artificial intelligence.
“Businesses have had to absorb an extraordinary amount of change in the past few years, and that has made the ability to see what is happening and respond quickly much more important,” said Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President, SAP Middle East and Africa – South. “For AI to make a real difference, it needs to understand the business. That means working with trusted enterprise data and within the processes where decisions are made. For companies in Oman, the opportunity is to put AI to work on real business problems, with the right data and context behind it.”
Across five dedicated business-function tracks: Data and IT, Finance and Spend Management, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Customer Experience, the event examined how connected systems and embedded AI can improve visibility, simplify work and support better decisions. SAP also outlined its vision for the Autonomous Enterprise, bringing applications, data and AI together so AI agents can work across business processes using trusted enterprise data and business context.
From Digital Ambition to Practical Outcomes
For organizations gathered in Muscat, the question is no longer simply whether to invest in AI, but how to apply it responsibly in ways that create tangible value in everyday operations.
Organizations at the event also shared their own experiences of how technology is changing their businesses. Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), which has worked with SAP across its digital and talent development initiatives, highlighted the importance of combining new technology with industry knowledge and skills.
“AI has the potential to change how we draw on the knowledge and experience within our organizations,” said Waheed Al Hamaid, Head of Enterprise Solutions, PDO. “Our relationship with SAP provides an important foundation as we explore how AI can help our people anticipate challenges, make better-informed decisions and improve performance. In the energy sector, progress will depend on combining these capabilities with deep industry expertise and developing the skills to use them responsibly. That is how we can create lasting value for our industry and for Oman.”
“The decisions we make in the energy sector today will shape Oman’s economy for decades to come,” said Yaqoob Al Hattali, Head of ICT, Energy Development Oman. “AI can help us understand complex challenges, explore different scenarios and make more informed choices about the future. Its promise extends beyond operational efficiency to supporting a more resilient and sustainable energy sector. Realizing that promise will require a clear purpose, responsible governance and close collaboration between technology and business leaders.”
“AI opens the door for businesses in Oman to rethink how they create value, serve customers and pursue growth,” said Abdullah Al Balushi, CIO, Zubair. “The ambition should extend beyond improving what we do today to imagining what we could do differently tomorrow. That requires giving people the confidence and skills to experiment, question established ways of working and turn ideas into new opportunities. Organizations that build this capability will be better placed to contribute to Oman’s economic diversification.”
Held at W Muscat, SAP Connect Day Oman included executives from sectors including energy and natural resources, financial services, public services, manufacturing, consumer industries and services. The program included keynote sessions, dedicated business-function tracks and live demonstrations of AI and cloud technologies.
SAP Connect Day Oman was supported by Diamond sponsor Deloitte, platinum sponsors NTT DATA, inflexion, indus novateur and apsolut, and gold sponsor Accely. Their participation reflected the importance of ecosystem collaboration in advancing digital transformation at scale.
