Sur – The Smart Governorates and Cities Conference and Hackathon was held on Sunday in the wilayat of Sur, underscoring Oman’s efforts to advance digital transformation and innovation in governorate management.
Held under the patronage of Dr Yahya bin Badr al Maawali, Governor of South Sharqiyah, the event brought together decision-makers, experts and innovators to promote smart governorates in line with Oman Vision 2040, which aims to enhance public services and strengthen technological integration across sectors.
Conference sessions examined regional and international trends in sustainability and innovation, with a focus on the use of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence in public administration. Discussions also addressed environmental and developmental challenges and the role of digital solutions in improving institutional efficiency.
Maawali said the conference reflects a strategic approach to serving the community and supporting comprehensive development. He noted that innovation and digital transformation have become national priorities, contributing to improved government performance and quality of life.
He said the smart governorates and cities model relies on technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to improve services, urban planning and environmental sustainability, stressing the importance of partnership between the public and private sectors, academic institutions and young innovators.
The governor added that South Sharqiyah is implementing digital initiatives to develop infrastructure and enhance city management, noting that smart cities can help attract investment, support the digital economy and create employment opportunities.
He affirmed the governorate’s commitment to supporting the outcomes of the conference and hackathon and to translating viable ideas into projects on the ground.
H E Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said the conference represents a step towards developing smart city models. He noted that modern technologies can improve efficiency, raise productivity and reduce costs, expressing hope that the hackathon would generate practical solutions to support digital transformation and enhance user satisfaction.
International speaker Mounir Kabbara addressed global urbanisation trends, noting that 68% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities by 2050. He said the global smart cities market is projected to reach US$4.06tn by 2031 and highlighted the shift towards data- and artificial intelligence-driven “cognitive cities”.
Kabara said cities can address challenges such as cybersecurity and modernisation costs through flexible financing mechanisms and effective data governance.
The accompanying hackathon focused on six themes: environment and sustainability, smart cities and services, smart agriculture and fishing, transport and safety, e-commerce, and smart urban planning.
The conference concluded with recommendations aimed at accelerating digital transformation in the sultanate, including prioritising high-impact initiatives, integrating them into the national digital ecosystem and linking smart city projects to the economic strengths of each governorate. The programme also highlighted Sultan Haitham City as the sultanate’s first fully integrated smart city, supported by digital infrastructure and smart governance.
