Muscat – Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran Group) has announced the first edition of a hackathon in its efforts to foster innovation and support entrepreneurship in the tourism sector.

Scheduled to take place from December 14 to 21, the event will bring together developers, designers and young entrepreneurs to develop creative solutions addressing challenges in the tourism sector and other key areas, including energy, environment and logistics.

The hackathon will be held in strategic partnership with Oman Across Ages Museum and the Governorate of Dakhliyah. Executed by Al Jabr, a regional leader in startup development and institutional innovation in the MENA region, several Oman Investment Authority entities will also be involved.

The hackathon will serve as a dynamic platform for tech and creative talent to collaborate in a competitive environment, crafting innovative ideas in fields such as technology, artificial intelligence, health and environmental sustainability. Participants will work to transform these ideas into prototypes or actionable projects.

The event will be inaugurated on December 14 at Oman Across Ages Museum. This will be followed by an innovation sprint at Dusit D2 Naseem Resort in Jabal Akhdar on December 19 and 20, featuring two days of intensive brainstorming and mentorship. The hackathon will conclude with a ceremony on December 21, also at Dusit D2, where teams will present their final projects to a panel of judges and compete for recognition and prizes.

Developers, designers and university students specialising in technology, tourism and business, as well as entrepreneurs from the tourism and technology sectors are encouraged to participate. Out of over 100 registered teams, only 30 will be selected, ensuring a showcase of the brightest emerging talent.

Commenting on the event, Kawthar Said al Amrani, Research, Development and Innovation Lead at Omran, said, “We are thrilled to launch the first edition of the Omran Hackathon, which reflects our dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the tourism sector. Through this initiative, we aim to empower local talent to establish SMEs that will be able to provide sustainable solutions to boost the competitiveness of Oman’s tourism sector.”