Muscat  – The Research and Innovation Authority (RIA) will inaugurate the Midad Digital Centre at Innovation Park Muscat on Sunday, providing a dedicated platform to empower young talent, develop advanced digital skills and explore new opportunities in technology and innovation.

The centre will be inaugurated under the patronage of Dr Saif bin Abdullah Al Hadabi, Chairman of RIA.

Established as a specialised national training institution, the Centre will focus on knowledge transfer, capacity building and anticipating future trends in key technology sectors, including advanced communications, 5G networks, the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence.

Managed and operated by the Ibn Firnas Academy for Unmanned Aircraft, the centre aims to serve as a national platform for developing technological innovation and equipping individuals and institutions with advanced digital capabilities.

It will also provide space for young talent to develop ideas, experiment with emerging technologies and explore new possibilities in innovation.

The centre is expected to strengthen collaboration between government entities, academic institutions and industry, supporting the development of a sustainable digital economy and society in Oman.

The project is backed by a strategic partnership involving government and private-sector entities. RIA will provide institutional oversight and align the centre’s programmes with national priorities.

The Ministry of Finance supported the establishment and implementation of the project through the Partnership for Development Programme. Ericsson equipped the centre with advanced communications platforms and technologies and is providing technical expertise as its technology and knowledge partner.

Omantel is supporting the centre’s technological environment and connecting its programmes with the national telecommunications ecosystem.

The Ibn Firnas Academy will implement the centre’s practical programmes, including the Digital Lab, providing hands-on opportunities to develop technology-related skills.

The establishment of the centre comes as Oman continues to expand its digital capabilities and strengthen the skills needed to support innovation and emerging technologies, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.