Muscat: On Sunday, the Government of Oman unveiled the Oman Nation brand visual identity voting campaign, marking the culmination of a comprehensive 12-month research and development effort. This initiative is part of a broader series of public engagement activities associated with the ongoing Oman Nation brand strategy.
From December 26 to 29, 2024, Omani citizens and residents will have the chance to participate in a four-day voting event to choose one of three proposed visual identities for the Oman Nation brand. Each option features a logo that draws inspiration from distinct Omani design elements. The logo that receives the highest number of votes will be adopted as the official visual identity for the Oman Nation brand strategy.
The announcement of the voting campaign took place during a media conference attended by Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, along with various representatives, stakeholders, and partners of the Oman Nation brand, as well as members of the local media.
Eng. Aisha Mohammed Al Saifi, Director of Oman’s Unified Promotional Nation Brand Project and Vice President of the National Program for the Development of Private Sector and Foreign Trade (Nazdaher), expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, stating: “We are thrilled to launch this Oman Nation brand visual identity voting campaign, which offers a wonderful opportunity for the people of Oman to engage in selecting the logo that they believe best represents our nation to the world.”
Eng. Al Saifi emphasized the significance of the perceptions, feelings, and emotions that the global community associates with any nation, noting their profound influence on both economic and societal aspects. For the Sultanate of Oman, the visual identity voting campaign and the long-term Oman Nation brand strategy have been crafted to establish a vital foundation for articulating and showcasing the nation’s brand and narrative to the world, ensuring it is viewed positively and yields beneficial results.
The primary goals of the Oman Nation brand initiative include enhancing Oman’s visibility on the global stage and distinguishing it from neighboring countries, fostering economic and social growth by positioning Oman as an attractive destination for investment, tourism, and residency, and promoting its genuine products and services.
Additionally, the Nation Brand is anticipated to bolster emerging sectors and innovative ventures by highlighting local talent, rectifying misconceptions, and sharing Oman’s true narrative, which is rooted in the art of forging meaningful connections that reflect a soft power integral to business dealings, personal relationships, and Oman’s global interactions.
Currently, the Nation Brand strategy project is in the third phase of a six-step process, which encompasses (1) Research, (2) Strategy, (3) Visual Identity, (4) Guidelines, (5) Implementation Plan, and (6) Launch.
This initiative has been in progress for the past year, involving extensive research both domestically and internationally.
A total of 500 surveys, 128 interviews, and various focus groups and street consultations with Omani citizens and residents have been conducted throughout the country.
A total of 5,500 international surveys were conducted, alongside an analysis of over 3.8 million search engine keywords, to identify the most effective implementation of the Oman Nation brand strategy.
The three proposed visual identity options emerged from a collaborative effort between Omani talent and international experts. A Creative Committee, comprising leading figures from Oman’s arts, music, graphic design, and photography sectors, meticulously reviewed more than 700 images that encapsulate the rich and diverse identity of the Omani people.
This partnership between Omani and global designers resulted in the development of each visual identity option.
From Thursday, December 26, to Sunday, December 29, voters will be invited to access the soon-to-be-announced official voting platform to participate in selecting the visual identity for Oman. After the initial public voting phase, the winning logo will be unveiled during the official launch of the Oman Nation brand strategy in early 2025.
