Muscat – The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has launched the 2026 edition of the ‘Engineer It with AI’ competition, inviting innovators across Oman to develop solutions powered by agenticartificial intelligence.

The competition is part of efforts to strengthen the knowledge-based economy and accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies. It focuses on building applications, systems and digital programmes that can be deployed on major platforms, with emphasis on practical use and scalability.

Registration is open through the ministry’s official platform till May 29. Participation is capped at 25 teams, each comprising up to four members.

According to the timeline, the competition will begin with an official launch on June 24, followed by an in-person training bootcamp from June 28 to July 2. Teams will then move into the first development phase, working remotely to design and build their solutions before presenting initial prototypes at the end of July.

Shortlisted teams will enter an advanced development stage in August, receiving mentoring and technical support. Final presentations are scheduled for August 24 and 25, with winners to be announced at a closing ceremony on September 6.

MTCIT said the competition aims to enhance technical capabilities while encouraging participants to address national and global challenges using AI-based tools.

Winning teams will compete for prizes worth up to RO13,000. Selected projects may also receive support for further development and potential market deployment.

Officials said the competition reflects Oman’s focus on building local talent in AI and reinforcing its position within the regional digital economy.