The Oman University Programming Contest 2026 commenced on Tuesday at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Muscat, featuring 48 teams and a total of 144 participants competing in programming and problem-solving challenges. The two-day event is organised by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and held under the patronage of Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Communications and Information Technology. HH Sayyid Dr Fahd bin al Julanda al Said, Vice-Chancellor of SQU, attended the opening.
The competition aims to identify and nurture national talent in programming, enhance analytical and problem-solving skills, and prepare young Omanis to contribute to the country’s growing digital economy. Mahmoud bin Said al Majini, Head of Training Programmes at the ministry’s Future Skills Department and General Supervisor of the contest, emphasised the event’s role in equipping students with the skills needed to employ modern technologies and devise innovative solutions aligned with digital economy demands.
Al Majini also highlighted the importance of developing digital competencies among Omani youth to strengthen their technical capabilities and encourage participation in regional and international contests. Each year, three Omani teams advance to such competitions. Recent achievements include securing fifth and seventh places in a cybersecurity contest linked to a broader competition targeting African and Arab universities, which drew 152 teams globally. Additionally, Omani school teams have earned recognition, such as a seventh-place finish in the Future Programmer competition in Jordan, which featured more than 57 participants from the Arab world.
Dr Sultan bin Salim al Yahyai, Regional Director of the Oman University Programming Contest, noted the contest’s focus on skills essential to computer science and programming students amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). He remarked that while AI offers advanced and expedited tools, the capacity to formulate appropriate questions, interpret outcomes, detect errors, and make informed decisions remains critical.
The programming contest is held in cooperation with the Programming Academy, underscoring ongoing efforts to develop the technological expertise of Oman’s emerging digital workforce.