Oman Ushers in New Chapter, Celebrating its Glorious National Day This Thursday

The Sultanate of Oman celebrates this Thursday its Glorious National Day, marking the Al Busaidi State Foundation Day on 20 November. The occasion encapsulates national pride and unity under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, whose confidence in the Omani people reflects the enduring cohesion that has shaped the nation’s achievements and its renewed Renaissance.

Education, Research, and Innovation

Oman continues to strengthen its education sector in alignment with Oman Vision 2040. During a visit to Sultan Faisal bin Turki School in Al Amerat, His Majesty emphasized the need for technological empowerment of students and modernized learning environments. Oman currently employs over 66,000 educators across more than 1,300 public schools, with 241 teachers in special education and over 11,000 administrative and technical staff.

In 2025, 16 new school buildings were opened across nine educational directorates. Higher education performance has also risen, with Sultan Qaboos University advancing 28 places to rank 334th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Oman's commitment to research is reflected in its rise in the Global Innovation Index—from 84th to 74th overall and from 109th to 86th in innovation outputs.

Between 2018 and 2024, the Performance-Based Institutional Funding Program supported 2,228 research projects, including 475 in 2024 alone. Strategic programs have addressed governmental challenges, while the EJAAD platform expanded industrial research. Thirteen national innovation programs now support centers, student start-ups, awards, and international participation in global innovation exhibitions.

Social Protection and Development

The Social Protection Law has transformed Oman’s welfare system, covering all life stages and introducing benefits such as retirement, end-of-service compensation, maternity, disability, and direct cash support. Since its launch, more than 63 percent of the target population have benefited. Pension fund restructuring recorded over 90 percent progress in its 2024–2025 transition plan.

As of September 2025, over 604,000 Omanis were insured, with more than 121,000 active pensions. His Majesty also established a new sector for persons with disabilities and promulgated the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in October 2025. RO 7 million was allocated to create the Autism Spectrum Disorder Care and Rehabilitation Centre.

Childcare centers, youth homes, and elderly home-care programs continue to expand, serving hundreds of beneficiaries. These initiatives collectively strengthen family cohesion, community partnerships, and high-quality social services.

Healthcare Development

Health remains a core priority under Vision 2040. Oman advanced to 55th globally in the Legatum Health Index and 6th in the MENA region. The National Health Policy now guides development of an integrated system focused on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

From 2024 to early 2025, Oman inaugurated 10 new health institutions and expanded 7 hospitals and 21 health facilities. Major ongoing projects include the National Virtual Health Centre and nine new hospitals.

Oman achieved significant organ-transplant milestones, including its first heart transplant for an Omani citizen and the restart of corneal transplants. The Royal Hospital earned Platinum Status from Accreditation Canada International, while several hospitals received international patient-safety accreditation. Childhood vaccination rates exceed 99 percent.

Governance, Environment, and Sustainability

The Council of Oman advances legislative integration, while the judiciary continues to modernize procedures. Oman strengthens transparency and oversight to support sustainable development.

Environmentally, Oman was ranked the least polluted Arab country and 22nd worldwide in the 2025 Global Pollution Index. The Al Wusta Wetland Reserve joined the Ramsar list, and two nature reserves were added to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Air-quality monitoring now relies on 56 stations nationwide.

Efforts to protect marine ecosystems continue along Oman’s 3,165-km coastline. In agriculture, 449 projects worth RO 1.85 billion were implemented by October 2025. Fisheries output reached 901,000 tons in 2024, while aquaculture investments surpassed RO 1 billion. Oman maintains 82 groundwater-recharge dams, 117 surface-storage dams, and more than 4,000 aflaj systems.

Youth, Media, and Society

Oman regards youth as central to national progress. Programs such as the Youth Ambassadors Program, Mustaed Camp, Youth Excellence Award, and Tawasul Film Award cultivate leadership, innovation, and civic participation.

The Omani media sector expanded significantly, producing more than 50,000 media items and 7,000 broadcast bulletins. Digital platforms, including the “Ayn” media portal, saw more than 14 million content views, reflecting the sector’s modernization and global outreach.

Economic Performance

Oman’s economy in 2025 demonstrated sustained growth supported by diversification and rising non-oil revenue. Public debt decreased to RO 14.1 billion by mid-2025, while revenues reached RO 5.839 billion. The trade balance recorded a surplus of RO 3.555 billion despite a decline from 2024 levels. Non-oil exports grew 11.3 percent to RO 3.89 billion.

GDP at current prices grew 0.6 percent in Q2 2025, while real growth for the first half of the year reached 2.3 percent. Inflation remained low at 0.8 percent, with year-end projections at 0.9 percent. S&P affirmed Oman’s credit rating at BBB- with a stable outlook, projecting growth of over 2 percent annually through 2028.

Foreign Direct Investment reached RO 30.279 billion, with RO 3.4 billion inflows. Investment in special economic zones and industrial cities doubled in five years to RO 22 billion, providing around 80,000 jobs. In the first half of 2025 alone, new investments exceeded RO 1.053 billion.

Oman Investment Authority

The Oman Investment Authority’s assets now exceed RO 20 billion, with RO 1.585 billion in profits and RO 800 million contributed to the state budget. The OIA ranks 8th globally in five-year investment returns. Fourteen national projects worth more than RO 450 million were completed, generating 1,350 jobs across key sectors.

Diplomacy and International Relations

Oman maintains a foreign policy rooted in dialogue, non-interference, and respect for international law. His Majesty undertook visits to Türkiye, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia, Belarus, Algeria, and Spain, and held meetings with the King and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Oman also hosted distinguished leaders from across the region.

Oman played a pivotal mediating role in nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States and facilitated a truce agreement between the U.S. and Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement to safeguard maritime navigation.

Regional Stances

Oman condemned Israel’s aggression in Gaza and violations against Qatar and Iran, urging the UN Security Council to ensure civilian protection and uphold international law. It reaffirmed support for an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Oman also called for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied Syrian territories and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 to achieve a political solution in Syria.