Market Overview
Oman’s Knowledge Oases are purpose-built economic zones designed to attract technology companies, research institutions, innovation startups, and knowledge-economy service providers. Managed by Madayn (the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates), the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) is the most established node, located in the Al Rusayl area approximately 30 kilometres from central Muscat. The zone provides office space, data centre infrastructure, business incubation facilities, and a regulatory environment tailored to ICT and technology-sector tenants.
The Knowledge Oases concept extends Vision 2040’s ambition to build a knowledge-based economy by creating physical ecosystems where technology companies can cluster, collaborate, and access shared infrastructure and talent pools. The model draws on the success of similar zones in the UAE (Dubai Internet City, Abu Dhabi Hub71) and the broader GCC technology-zone ecosystem.
Opportunity Assessment
| Factor | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Primary location | Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM), Al Rusayl |
| Target sectors | ICT, software development, data centres, cybersecurity, fintech, AI |
| Tenants | Mix of multinational tech companies and Omani startups |
| Business incubation | National Business Centre (NBC) provides startup support |
| Tax incentives | Tax holidays available; 100% foreign ownership |
| Digital infrastructure | High-speed fibre, data centre access, cloud connectivity |
| Talent pipeline | Adjacent to Sultan Qaboos University and technical colleges |
Risk Factors
Oman’s technology sector is small relative to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with a limited domestic market for enterprise technology services. Competition for technology talent is intense across the GCC, and Oman’s salary benchmarks and lifestyle offering may not match those of Dubai or Riyadh for internationally mobile tech professionals. The Knowledge Oasis Muscat’s physical infrastructure, while adequate, lacks the scale, density, and amenity ecosystem of Dubai Internet City or Abu Dhabi’s Hub71. Venture capital and growth equity availability for Omani tech startups remains limited, with most significant funding rounds requiring engagement with UAE or Saudi investors.
Entry Strategy
- Target government digitisation contracts through proximity to ministries and government technology procurement channels
- Evaluate Oman as a lower-cost base for GCC-wide technology service delivery — wage costs are 30-50 percent below Dubai equivalents
- Consider cybersecurity and data sovereignty plays, given Oman’s investment in national data centre infrastructure
- Engage the National Business Centre for startup incubation and acceleration support
Vision 2040 Alignment
The Knowledge Oases directly serve Vision 2040’s ambition to build a technology and innovation-driven economy. The Networked Readiness Index target (top 20 by 2040) and the Economic Complexity Index improvement both depend on building domestic technology production capabilities. The zones provide the physical infrastructure layer for the Fourth Industrial Revolution strategy and the digital government transformation programme.