Muscat – Oman secured first place globally at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2026 Awards in the E-Environment category, marking another international recognition of the sultanate’s drive to combine digital transformation with environmental sustainability.

Organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the award was presented for the ‘Enhancing Environmental Sustainability and Energy Efficiency through Smart Street Lighting’ project in Musandam. The award was announced during the WSIS Forum, held at the Palexpo exhibition centre in Geneva from July 6-10.

The project is built on smart city technologies, using the Internet of Things (IoT) to connect street lighting poles to a central digital platform. The system enables authorities to remotely monitor, control and manage the lighting network in real time, allowing operators to detect faults before they escalate, automate operating schedules and analyse electricity consumption.

Officials said the integrated platform has improved the efficiency of public services by reducing response times to technical faults while providing accurate operational data to support planning and asset management.

Beyond improving municipal services, the initiative has delivered significant environmental and economic benefits. By optimising electricity use, the project reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions associated with conventional street lighting systems. It also lowers operating and maintenance costs while extending the lifespan of lighting infrastructure, contributing to more efficient public spending.

H E Dr Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said the international recognition reflects Oman’s broader commitment to sustainable digital development.

He said the award complements national initiatives in green data centres, the Green AI Alliance and green computing, adding that Oman remains committed to international cooperation in building a sustainable digital economy.

Sheikh Abdulaziz Ahmed Al Hum Al Mayasi, Wali of Dibba and Director of the Digital Transformation Programme in Musandam, described the achievement as a strategic success that highlights the governorate’s ability to harness innovation and advanced technologies to improve public services and support sustainable development goals.

He noted that the latest award builds on the project’s success at the WSIS 2025 Awards, where it was recognised among the world’s leading scalable and sustainable digital initiatives, reinforcing its contribution to the objectives of Vision 2040.