The Hadatha Centre for Cybersecurity Industry at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) is advancing Oman’s cybersecurity landscape by fostering innovation, supporting student projects, and forging partnerships across government and industry. Established in July 2025 through a collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the Centre serves as a hub for developing cybersecurity talent and practical solutions to address evolving digital threats.

In its inaugural year, the Centre engaged 18 students from various university colleges in its innovation programs, receiving 14 research proposals. Following a selective evaluation, six projects were chosen for their potential impact and practical applicability. These initiatives spanned critical areas including ransomware detection, AI-powered online child protection, intrusion detection for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, privacy monitoring on Android platforms, and phishing simulation tools.

The Centre also conducted a series of workshops, training sessions, and awareness programs in partnership with the National Centre for Information Safety and the Communications and Information Research Centre. Through two dedicated pathways—the Foundation Programme and the Development Programme—students were guided to transform concepts into market-ready prototypes.

Notable among the projects was VoiceGuard, a large language model developed to simulate voice phishing attacks for cybersecurity training and awareness. Another significant achievement was the Windows Malware Detection System, a lightweight solution tailored to identify malware and intrusion attempts on Microsoft Windows platforms.

By providing ongoing mentorship and facilitating collaboration with industry stakeholders, the Hadatha Centre has created an environment that nurtures creativity, technical skills, and entrepreneurship. The initial cohort’s progress, marked by several promising prototypes with commercialization potential, signals the Centre’s growing role in strengthening Oman's cybersecurity capabilities.

Looking forward, the Centre plans to broaden its strategic partnerships, increase technical workshops and specialized competitions, and enhance student participation through advanced innovation and training initiatives. These efforts aim to bolster national cybersecurity resilience and cultivate a pipeline of skilled professionals equipped to address future digital challenges.