Muscat – Two young Omani innovators are set to showcase homegrown solutions tackling healthcare safety and accessibility challenges on the global stage, reflecting the sultanate’s growing innovation ecosystem.

Balqis Salim Al Hakmani and Nahiya Nasser Al Hamdani will represent Oman at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2026), scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from May 18 to 20.

Their participation highlights the rising role of Omani youth in developing practical, technology-driven solutions with real-world impact.

Balqis has developed Cardio-K, a smart medical system designed to enhance patient safety through continuous monitoring of vital signs, including potassium levels – a critical indicator for patients with cardiac conditions. The system uses intelligent analytical algorithms to detect early physiological imbalances, enabling timely intervention and improving clinical outcomes.

Speaking to Muscat Daily, Balqis, CEO of Soul Company, said building a reliable continuous monitoring system posed significant technical challenges.

“One of the main hurdles was integrating multiple biomedical sensors into a single device while maintaining high analytical accuracy and ensuring consistent reliability of results,” she said.

She added that the project required the development of a specialised pump linked to the sensors, allowing for timely medical response when abnormalities are detected.

With support from biomedical engineering consultants and medical specialists, the team has produced a working prototype and is now collaborating with specialised manufacturers to explore scaling and future production.

In a parallel innovation, Nahiya, a student at Sohar University, has designed Sense Glasses – a smart assistive device aimed at empowering the visually impaired.

The device uses integrated cameras and sensors to scan surroundings, detect obstacles and identify objects, providing real-time audio feedback to users. It can also read printed text, respond to voice commands and send emergency alerts at the press of a button.

“The idea came from observing the daily challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. We wanted to use technology to help them interact more confidently with their environment,” Nahiya said.

The system is supported by a mobile application offering features such as recognising medicines and expiry dates, identifying currencies, reading text and describing surroundings. It supports both Arabic and English to ensure broader usability.

Currently under testing, the device has demonstrated its core capabilities, with ongoing work focused on improving accuracy and exploring commercial partnerships.

Both innovators expressed pride in representing Oman internationally, noting that platforms such as ITEX provide valuable opportunities to refine ideas, connect with global experts and attract investment.

They also pointed to steady growth in Oman’s innovation landscape, driven by youth ambition and aligned with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.

While acknowledging challenges in manufacturing specialised technologies – particularly in the medical field – they remain optimistic about the sultanate’s trajectory in advancing innovation and technology in the years ahead.