Muscat – From artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship to volunteering, sport and creative industries, Oman is widening opportunities for young people to influence national development while building skills for a rapidly changing future.

As the sultanate marks International Youth Day on Wednesday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth said its programmes in 2025 and 2026 have increasingly focused on listening to young people, encouraging dialogue and giving them platforms to turn ideas into initiatives.

Abeer bint Mubarak Al Farsi, Head of the Youth Surveys Department at the ministry, said the Tharwa programme has become a key channel for youth engagement.

Its first edition in September 2025 involved young people in evaluating previous ministry programmes and proposing initiatives for the Eleventh Five-Year Plan. A second edition, due in October, will examine six national themes – economic, political, cultural, legal, institutional and media.

“At the Gulf level, the fourth Gulf Youth Forum will be held in Dhofar in September under the theme ‘The Future of the Digital Content Industry’,” Abeer said.

Youth participation is also expanding through volunteering and community initiatives. The ministry supported 61 youth initiatives in 2025 and 68 in 2026, benefiting about 12,000 people annually.

Mohammed bin Marhoon Al Maktoumi, Director of Youth Initiatives, said the Esnad Oman Youth Volunteering Programme aims to train 500 young people this year through workshops, camps and specialised training.

Leadership development is another focus. The ‘Youth Ambassadors’ programme prepares young Omanis for international participation, while the ‘Ready’ camp is expected to attract around 500 participants aged 18-29. A four-week Military Discipline Programme has drawn 1,000 participants from across Oman.

For Jamila bint Al Uqab Al Zaidi, Director of Communication and Media at the Youth Centre, International Youth Day is an opportunity to move beyond symbolic celebration.

“It represents a renewed opportunity to listen to their aspirations and enhance their participation in formulating solutions, ideas and initiatives that affect their present and future,” Jamila said.

That ambition is increasingly visible in individual success stories.

Nihad bin Ali Al Hadi, a consultant in creative industries, said participation in national projects helped shape her career. She worked on a mapping project that identified 483 economic activities and 1,020 creative professions in Oman’s cultural and creative industries and is now pursuing doctoral research in Australia.

Playwright and director Osama bin Zayed Al Shaqsi credits youth cultural competitions with helping him develop his craft before winning awards across the region.

“Such initiatives produce talents that represent Oman in international forums and contribute to strengthening the cultural scene,” Al Shaqsi said.

Sport is creating similar pathways.

Rafal bint Hilal Al Harthi, an SQU student and junior 10m air-pistol shooter, said opportunities offered through sports federations can uncover talent beyond traditional disciplines.

“Sport is not limited to achievements and medals,” Rafal said. “It builds discipline, patience, focus and the ability to manage pressure.”

Across these programmes, the emphasis is shifting from simply creating activities for young people to involving them more directly in shaping Oman’s cultural, economic and social future.