Oman and Jordan race to lead Middle East’s AI and data centre revolution

Datacloud Middle East kicked off this morning with a packed keynote. H.E. Ali Amur Ali Al Shidhani, undersecretary of communications and information technology – ministry of transport, communications and information technology (MTCIT) was joined on stage by Eng. Imad Matarneh, Chairman of the Board of Directors – King Hussein Business Park (KHBP). The session was moderated by Mehdi Paryavi, Chairman – International Data Center Authority (IDCA).

The panellists outlined bold visions to transform their nations into cornerstone players within the digital economy. Their strategies, deeply rooted in government-backed initiatives and comprehensive planning, aim to attract global investment and foster innovation in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data centre infrastructure. However, the panel made it clear that national policy is just the first step; genuine progress will require robust regional collaboration.

Oman’s national digital mandate

Oman’s digital strategy is anchored in a robust government-wide mandate. Over the past three to four years, the Sultanate has been executing the National Digital Economy Programme, with the goal of growing the digital economy fivefold in the coming years. H.E. Ali Amur Ali Al Shidhani, undersecretary of communications and information technology – ministry of transport, communications and information technology (MTCIT) commented that this is a “whole-of-government” effort.

“Oman is going into a transformation phase and trying to diversify the economy, and the digital economy was identified as one of the economic sectors that will be pushed by the government, and it’s at the top of the government agenda,” he said. He added, “When all ministries speak digital economy, it becomes easier to interact across infrastructure, logistics, talent and regulation,” he explained.

Oman’s digital triangle

Central to Oman’s strategy is the Oman Digital Triangle, a concept developed in collaboration with the Infrastructure Development Corporation of America (IDCA). The Digital Triangle consists of three geographically distinct but interconnected hubs, each designed to host AI data centres and cloud infrastructure. These hubs are planned to be fully investment-ready with comprehensive policy frameworks, regulatory clarity, talent development pathways, and incentives to attract global operators.

“What a digital triangle is, it’s literally a triangle, three geographically distant but connected hubs in Oman that will be ready from an investment perspective, talent, infrastructure, standards, policy ready to host AI data centres with more emphasis on green AI,” Al Shidhani (MTCIT) explained.

The project also incorporates renewable energy, tapping into Oman’s abundant solar and wind resources to meet the power-intensive requirements of data centres. “We have an abundance of sun and wind in Oman” Al Shidhani commented “which positions the country as a sustainable, future-focused destination for AI infrastructure.”

Connectivity is another key differentiator. Oman currently hosts over 20 international submarine cables, with more planned in the near future. Al Shidhani noted: “We are one of the most connected countries around the world when it comes to submarine cables, political stability, and friendly relations globally, which is critical for the fragile AI industry.”

Jordan’s human capital and strategic zones

Jordan meanwhile is pursuing a complementary strategy, focusing on human capital and specialised regulatory zones. The Kingdom produces tens of thousands of ICT graduates annually, many of whom work regionally and internationally. This skilled workforce is central to Jordan’s plans for a digital hub.

The King Hussein Business Park has been identified as the nucleus for Jordan’s digital transformation. It operates as a special development zone, offering flexible regulations, economic incentives, and streamlined customs processes similar to a Special Economic Zone.

Matarneh commented that “In trying to take a faster leap into achieving results, we realised that the business park can be the actual nucleus of the digital transformation in Jordan… We have leadership in the region to transform it into a digital hub.”

He pointed out that recent natural gas discoveries provide a stable energy base for data centres. “The plan is to try to monetise that as early as possible, and we see that creating a digital hub with AI-enabled data centres would be the quickest way to monetise the natural gas,” the keynote explained.

Distinct advantages for investors

Both Oman and Jordan are attracting significant investment. Jordan offers security, regulatory flexibility, a skilled workforce, and energy resources, while Oman provides political stability, connectivity, renewable energy, and rapid execution capabilities.

In Oman, the speed of government execution is a notable differentiator. Al Shidhani commented that the government are committed to supporting progress. “If you submit an application to launch a rocket in Oman, you will get clearance in 45 days – the fastest government in the region to provide clearance for space sector activity. We have other examples in other sectors where Oman took audacious steps to turn red tape into a red carpet”.

Matarneh agreed that Jordan was following suit. “We believe that we need to create that platform and have this entity with the required regulations, required standards, and work with the government to make sure that all the regulations and the laws are attractive for creating this digital hub,” he explained.

A shared vision

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of regional collaboration. Both nations agreed that the Middle East could currently be contributing far more to the global digital economy. Al Shidhani commented that it was humbling that the region only accounts for only about five per cent of global digital GDP.

“We can do more – and we can only do that by collaborating. Individually we achieve little, but collectively we unlock greater capacity,” he said.

The leaders highlighted that diversity across the region should be seen as an advantage. Oman brings stability and connectivity, Jordan offers human capital, and other nations such as Qatar and the UAE lead in advanced deployments and energy solutions. By harmonising regulatory frameworks, improving cross-border connectivity, and combining their strengths, the region could establish a unified digital economic block with enhanced negotiating power and greater global impact.

“Healthy competition is always good, but also collaboration is critical for the success of this region,” they concluded.

“With collaboration, we can make this region a global hub for AI and data capacity.”