Muscat : On Monday, the Sultanate of Oman will celebrate Omani Youth Day observed annually on October 26th. This occasion reflects the nation’s commitment to its youth, its dedication to empowering them, and its efforts to enhance their contributions across various sectors all in alignment with the goals of "Oman Vision 2040," which places significant importance on young people within the national development journey.
Under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, a ceremony will be held tomorrow at the Youth Center. The event will feature a guided tour, addresses by young people, a visual presentation, the signing of a funding agreement for the Youth Center’s main branch in the Muscat Governorate, the signing of several other agreements, and an awards ceremony.
Data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information indicates that the total number of young people in the Sultanate of Oman defined as those between the ages of 18 and 29 reached 1,038,715 in 2025. Omani youth account for approximately 52 percent of this total, with males making up 51 percent of the Omani youth population. More than a third of these individuals are concentrated in the Muscat and North Al Batinah Governorates.
The data further shows that the total number of Omani youth stood at 538,491 in 2025, with projections suggesting this figure will reach 914,609 by 2040. The Youth Center continues its efforts to empower Omani youth, develop their capabilities, and enhance their participation in the nation’s development journey. This is achieved by providing training programs and opportunities that help refine their skills and expand their knowledge, as well as by offering interactive spaces that foster innovation and creativity, enabling the transformation of ideas into high-quality projects and initiatives.
Statistics from the Youth Center covering the period from 2022 through the end of the third quarter of 2026 indicate that the Center has engaged with 1,525 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and delivered 457 training programs. During this time, 554,394 individuals utilized the Center’s spaces, while 73,028 people benefited from its programs, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 627,422.
These indicators reflect the Center’s commitment to broadening the reach of its programs and initiatives, and to strengthening an environment that supports young people ultimately nurturing their potential and creating opportunities that allow them to contribute effectively across various sectors.
Alia bint Saeed Al-Shanfari, Executive Director of the Youth Center, emphasized that this year’s Omani Youth Day arrives at a pivotal juncture for youth-focused efforts in the Sultanate of Oman. This follows the issuance of Royal Decree No. 38/2026, which established the Youth Center and defined its regulatory framework a milestone that underscores the Center’s vital role in supporting young people and providing an environment that nurtures their ideas, initiatives, and aspirations.
She explained that the Center is actively pursuing its strategic vision to expand across the Sultanate’s governorates, with plans announced for branches in Al-Dakhiliyah, Al-Buraimi, North Al-Batinah, and South Al-Sharqiyah. Furthermore, the soft opening of the Center’s branches in the Dhofar and Musandam governorates will soon be announced. These expansions will ensure that the Center’s programs and initiatives reach youth across all regions, offering them broader opportunities to develop their skills, refine their talents, and transform their ideas into valuable initiatives and projects.
Al-Shanfari added that the Center is also developing investment projects to bolster its financial sustainability. These include a conference and exhibition center, as well as an artificial intelligence academy, located at the Youth Center’s branch in South Al-Sharqiyah. Such initiatives support a sustainable model that integrates youth empowerment with resource development, ensuring the Center’s capacity to sustain and evolve its programs and initiatives over the long term.
She expressed her appreciation for the Center’s partners in both the public and private sectors, stressing that effective partnerships are a cornerstone for expanding opportunities for young people, enhancing the impact of programs and initiatives, and building an integrated ecosystem that addresses their aspirations and needs.
Innovator Saif bin Abdullah Al-Balushi stated that the greatest contribution a nation can offer its youth goes beyond merely providing opportunities; it begins with trusting in their ability to create things that did not exist before. When young people feel that their nation believes in their ideas and values their efforts, their ambition shifts from a personal desire for success to a broader sense of responsibility toward society and the future. Through my own experience in innovation and artificial intelligence, I have come to realize that innovation does not always begin with a new answer; rather, it may start with the courage to ask a question that has never been posed before. True progress is not measured solely by the possession of the latest technologies, but by our capacity to apply knowledge to solve real-world challenges and create a tangible impact on human life. I believe that the support Omani institutions provide to the youth gains its deepest value when it moves beyond celebrating achievements to empowering those with ideas opening new horizons for learning and experimentation. Such support bolsters young people’s confidence in their own capabilities, encourages them to take initiative, and provides a pathway for their ideas to evolve into projects that serve society. Furthermore, embracing various experiences even those that do not succeed is an investment in knowledge; failure is not necessarily the opposite of success, but can, in fact, be a precursor to it.
Al-Balushi further emphasized that Omani Youth Day embodies the nation’s trust in its young people a moment to take pride in what has been accomplished and to reflect on the responsibilities that lie ahead. It prompts me to ask: What value will we add to the achievements of previous generations? And what legacy will we leave for those who come after us?
He added: "I am optimistic about an Omani generation that possesses the ambition, knowledge, and determination to be a partner in shaping scientific and technological transformations, rather than merely a recipient of their outcomes. I aspire to see Omani innovations that emerge from the needs of our own society and extend their impact to the rest of the world. True devotion to one’s nation is not reflected solely in taking pride in its history and present; it is also found in assuming responsibility for its future. The nation we are proud to belong to today deserves for us to build a tomorrow that future generations will, in turn, be proud to call their own."
Writer Ahmed bin Rashid Al-Muqbali stated that, since the inception of the blessed Renaissance, Omani youth have received special attention from the government a commitment underscored by the designation of a "Year of Youth," coinciding with the Sultanate of Oman’s National Day celebrations. In the ongoing journey of the "Renewed Renaissance," His Majesty the Sultan has placed great emphasis on the youth sector, describing them as "the nation’s wealth and its inexhaustible resource."
He highlighted that, within the framework of fostering young literary talent, the Cultural Strategy (2021–2040)—adopted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth seeks to transform the Omani cultural landscape into a hub of creativity and establish the Sultanate of Oman as a premier cultural destination. As part of this strategy, the Ministry launched the "Fikr" (Thought) program, which facilitates the acquisition of books authored by Omanis.
He further explained that young writers have benefited from generous support through various cultural and literary initiatives and forums designed to refine their talents, bolster their development, and promote their works. Currently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth is hosting the "Literary and Artistic Forum," an initiative dedicated to nurturing young talent. The forum provides a space for developing, supporting, and encouraging the literary ideas of young creators through a series of events held throughout the duration of the gathering. Such initiatives and forums, alongside the efforts of other cultural institutions, play a significant role in fostering a culture of knowledge among the youth.
He added that "Omani Youth Day" observed annually on October 26th stands as a landmark occasion within this ongoing national journey, serving as a true embodiment of this commitment. For the role that young people play in building Oman, in celebration of them, and in recognition of their achievements.