Third Cybersecurity Centre Launched at Middle East College: What It Means for Oman’s Business Security and Investment Climate
MUSCAT, OCT 19 — The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) officially inaugurated the third Hadatha Cybersecurity Industry Centre on Sunday at the Middle East College in Muscat. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Saif bin Abdullah al Haddabi, Under-Secretary for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.
This new centre is the result of a strategic partnership between MoTCIT, represented by the National Centre for Information Security, and Middle East College.
In her keynote speech, Aziza bint Sultan al Rashdiyah, Assistant Director General for Cybersecurity Programmes at MoTCIT, emphasized that this is the third Hadatha Cybersecurity Industry Centre established to date. She described the centre as more than a technological initiative; it is an intellectual and scientific hub designed to foster creativity and accelerate entrepreneurial ventures in cybersecurity.
“In an era marked by escalating digital threats and growing cyber challenges, local innovation is no longer a luxury but an essential necessity,” Al Rashdiyah stated. She highlighted the critical gap between cybersecurity needs and current capabilities, underscoring the importance of specialised national centres like Hadatha. These centres serve as platforms to inspire technological innovation, facilitate the transfer of research from labs to market, and enhance Oman’s competitiveness in one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors.
The collaboration with Middle East College was chosen based on the institution’s outstanding readiness assessment scores and its capacity to establish a strategic partnership that stimulates an academic atmosphere conducive to cybersecurity innovation. This partnership supports Oman’s drive to become a regional leader in cybersecurity by contributing to the knowledge-based economy, promoting entrepreneurship, and generating quality opportunities for researchers and innovators.
Additionally, the Ministry announced the launch of the Cybersecurity Challenges Portal during the inauguration. This new portal is designed to gather, analyze, and address practical cybersecurity issues.
The Hadatha Cybersecurity Industry Centre is a key initiative under the National Cybersecurity Programme (Hadatha), which itself is part of Oman’s broader Digital Economy Framework.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The launch of the third Hadatha Cybersecurity Industry Centre in Muscat marks a strategic move towards bolstering Oman’s digital defense and innovation capabilities, creating significant opportunities for businesses to integrate advanced cybersecurity solutions. For investors and entrepreneurs, this development signals a fertile ground for partnerships in cybersecurity R&D and commercialization, while highlighting the growing demand for expertise and innovation in a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. Embracing these opportunities now could position stakeholders as key players in one of the region’s fastest-growing and critical industries.
