Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology has announced the specifics of COMEX 2025, which will take place at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre from September 7 to 10, 2025, with the participation of over 300 local and international firms. The exhibition will act as a platform for digital investment.
This was revealed during a press conference hosted by the ministry in Muscat today, in collaboration with the Arabian Research Bureau, a market research and data analytics firm, which presented the agenda, subjects, and key features of this year's edition.
Dr. Ali Amir Al Shithani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology for Communications and IT, said that the ministry intends to use COMEX to promote direct investment opportunities in the communications and IT sectors, support tech startups, showcase their products, enhance local content, and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors and international partnerships. He emphasized that the exhibition serves as a focal point for all stakeholders to promote the digital economy.
He confirmed that COMEX 2025 will have strong participation from local and foreign businesses, with several pavilions, sections, and activities. According to him, the ministry will have a separate pavilion showcasing its initiatives and projects, the majority of which are part of the National Digital Economy Programme.
He clarified that the ministry will hold a number of sideline events and workshops geared toward businesses, investors, and startups in the area, including digital investment, egaming, digital tourism, and creative content production. Additionally, the Investment and Local Products Forum for Cybersecurity 2025 will be held to showcase initiatives and accomplishments in cybersecurity, encouraging Omani youth and startups to create creative answers to cyber problems while leveraging worldwide experience.
The Undersecretary also noted that the ministry will host the Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing Forum, which will focus on raising awareness of AI and quantum computing, fostering research and industrial collaborations between academic institutions and enterprises, and demonstrating practical applications of quantum AI in several sectors. The forum will also help participants' abilities in these cutting-edge topics by generating actionable insights. Furthermore, a hackathon will be hosted to generate creative answers to cybersecurity difficulties.
He remarked that COMEX 2024 met its goals as a marketing and investment hub, facilitating connections between businesses and investors. The event resulted in the signing of 60 agreements and MoUs totaling over RO 85 million, representing a 112% rise over the 2023 edition. The accompanying events featured 60 workshops, 25 startup-focused activities, and participation from 100 tech and innovation experts. The exhibition drew 350 participating entities and more than 80,000 attendees.
Meanwhile, Dr. Al Shithani noted that Oman's communications and IT sector increased by 10. 6% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2024. Local investments in artificial intelligence totaled around RO 60 million by the end of last year, with ongoing initiatives under the National AI and Advanced Technologies Programme, according to him.
COMEX 2025 will include a Digital Investment Corner, which will offer a dedicated space for investment opportunities in IT and communications. The corner seeks to encourage tech investments by attracting local and foreign investors, establishing Oman as a regional center for digital investment opportunities.
This year's exhibition will also feature a Startup Pavilion, which will provide startups with an investment-friendly atmosphere through specialized workshops on venture capital, startup development best practices, and success tales.
During the press conference, a visual presentation highlighted the exhibition's major areas, such as the International Delegations Pavilion, Space Technology, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Smart Cities, Health Technologies, and other advanced technical fields.
