Overview
The World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks economies on innovation capability and outcomes using roughly 80 indicators spanning institutions, human capital, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs, and creative outputs. It captures both innovation inputs and the efficiency with which inputs translate into outputs.
Oman’s Position
Oman typically ranks between 70th and 80th on the GII – solidly middle-income performance but below expectations for a high-income nation. Innovation inputs score higher than outputs, suggesting that while Oman invests in enabling conditions, the translation into patents, scientific publications, technology exports, and creative goods remains limited. Research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP remains below one percent.
Regional Comparison
The UAE leads the GCC on innovation metrics, ranking in the global top 35 and serving as a regional hub for technology and creative industries. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in innovation infrastructure through KAUST and NEOM. Qatar’s research spending per capita exceeds Oman’s significantly. Bahrain and Kuwait, while smaller, have made targeted investments in fintech and digital innovation that boost their relative performance.
Trajectory
Oman’s National Innovation Strategy, embedded within Vision 2040, targets a significant improvement in GII ranking. Key initiatives include expanding the Oman Technology Fund, supporting technology transfer through Duqm and Salalah free zones, growing the ICT sector, and strengthening university-industry research linkages. The challenge is building an innovation culture in an economy historically dominated by government employment and oil revenues.