HH Sayyid Bilarab visits Thawani Technologies
The visit comes as part of a series of visits aimed at motivating promising startups, understanding their aspirations, and enhancing their role in the national economy.
During the visit, HH Sayyid Bilarab toured the facilities of 'Thawani', which was established in 2016 and has successfully introduced innovative payment solutions that meet local market demands while supporting national digital transformation efforts under Oman Vision 2040.
The company showcased its key achievements in deploying advanced technologies, including smartphone solutions, facial and palm biometric payment systems, artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning, and secure payment cards. It also highlighted its notable local and international accomplishments, such as winning the Innovation Unit Award for Entrepreneurship in 2020 and the Best FinTech Company in the Middle East Award in 2024.
During the meeting with HH Sayyid Bilarab, the company's specialists presented their regional expansion plans, which include entering regional and international markets to strengthen the presence of Omani startups abroad. HH Sayyid Bilarab lauded the company's successes in leveraging modern technologies to enhance digital payment and collection systems, emphasizing the importance of startups continuing to develop their capabilities and keep pace with global innovations.
Accompanying HH Sayyid Bilarab during the visit were Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology; Dr. Saif bin Abdullah Al Haddabi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation for Research and Innovation; Eng. Said bin Abdullah Al Mantheri, CEO of Oman Information and Communications Technology Group (ITHCA); and members of the Supervisory Committee of the Programme of Omani Promising Startups (POPS).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Muscat Daily
28 minutes ago
- Muscat Daily
Jabal Akhdar Park to open on Monday as part of tourism push
Jabal Akhdar – A new public park in Jabal Akhdar will open on Monday, adding to the wilayat's tourism and leisure facilities as part of ongoing development projects in Dakhliyah governorate. The Jabal Akhdar Park, built at a cost of more than RO1.1mn, covers 20,000sqm in the Saih Qatna area and is expected to attract both residents and tourists year-round. The project forms part of efforts under Oman Vision 2040 to turn the governorate's natural and cultural assets into sustainable development opportunities. Sultan al Ghafili Sheikh Sultan bin Mansour al Ghafili, wali of Jabal Akhdar, said the park is an important addition to the tourism landscape in the governorate. 'The project includes a 1,000sqm children's play area, sports paths, and investment areas containing a café, a shop and an area for electric games, in addition to prayer rooms and restrooms,' he said. The park also features an open multi-use theatre, green spaces covering 5,000sqm, 150 trees, 400 shrubs, and landscaped vegetation aimed at making the site suitable for family activities and community events. 'The project reflects the keenness of the wilayat, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of Dakhliyah, to develop facilities that meet sustainability standards, support small and medium enterprises, provide job opportunities and stimulate commercial activities,' Ghafili said. He added that further initiatives will follow, targeting ecotourism, smart agriculture and community services. 'These projects are part of a comprehensive development drive that considers innovation, sustainability and the promotion of Omani identity,' he said. Mohammed bin Ali al Wardi, Director of the Projects Department at Dakhliyah Municipality, described the park as part of an integrated plan to enhance public spaces and the urban environment. 'The celebration square in Saih Qatna, inaugurated in July, represents a model for cultural and tourism infrastructure in the governorate,' he said. He added that ongoing and upcoming projects aim to position Jabal Akhdar as a sustainable tourism centre, balancing preservation of the natural environment with the development of facilities and services.
Observer
4 hours ago
- Observer
Omani ports record rise in vessel and cargo traffic
MUSCAT, AUG 16 Oman's ports sector delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2025, driven by higher ship arrivals, container throughput, and cargo volumes, alongside vital development projects led by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) as part of efforts to upgrade port infrastructure in line with Oman Vision 2040. According to Muhanna bin Musa al Baqer, Director-General of Ports at the ministry, container handling across Salalah, Suhar and Duqm ports rose sharply, reaching 2,427,195 TEUs in the first half of 2025, compared with 2,173,508 TEUs in the same period of 2024—an increase of 11.7 per cent. He said the growth reflects the efficiency of logistics operations and the ports' ability to meet rising demand. The number of vessels calling at Omani ports and offshore terminals also climbed, totalling 6,586 ships in the first half of 2025, compared with 5,930 a year earlier, up 11.1 per cent. Key contributors to this growth included Sultan Qaboos Port, Shinas and Salalah. Cargo volumes handled across the ports reached 70.1 million tonnes in the first half of 2025, up 5.2 per cent from 66.6 million tonnes in the same period last year. The ports also received 50,248 vehicles and imported 2,694,293 head of livestock, underscoring the wide range of economic activities they support. On the development front, Al Baqer noted that the ministry has awarded a consultancy contract for the design and supervision of the Khour Grama development project, aimed at boosting the site's readiness and optimising its maritime use. Similarly, consultancy services have been commissioned for the rehabilitation of Shannah and Masirah ports, an eight-month study covering marine infrastructure such as quays, breakwaters and access bridges, along with a master plan for port organisation and development. In parallel, Shinas Port — operated by Quadrant Marine Solutions — has signed a usufruct agreement to establish a fuel storage and processing centre, with the support of MoTCIT, as part of wider efforts to diversify logistics services. 'These achievements highlight Oman's growing competitiveness in the logistics sector and reinforce its strategic ambition to become a leading regional hub for maritime transport,' Al Baqer stressed. — ONA Muhanna bin Musa al Baqer, Director-General of Ports
Observer
4 hours ago
- Observer
Manah-1 solar to produce 1.5 billion kWh annually
MUSCAT, AUG 16 Chinese renewables technology heavyweight Shanghai Electric's first solar power plant in Oman - the 500MW Oman Manah-1 Solar IPP Project - has completed one month of smooth operations after passing all assessments and final handover, the tech giant announced in a press statement. Shanghai Electric was the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) contractor for the project, and continues to serve as the long-term operation & maintenance (O&M) provider on behalf of Wadi Noor Solar Power Company SAOC, the project company owned equally by EDF Renewables (France) and Korea Western Power Co. Ltd (KOWEPO), each holding a 50% stake. 'The flagship Project under the Oman Vision 2040 national blueprint for sustainable environment and clean energy will generate 1.5 billion kWh of electricity annually, cutting CO₂ emissions by 780,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of taking 170,000 gasoline-powered cars off Oman's roads,' Shanghai Electric stated. Shanghai Electric provided end-to-end solutions for the Project — from design and planning, procurement and construction to long-term operation and maintenance. The integrated strategy delivered an efficient, sustainable energy system while advancing global solar technology innovation. To overcome the policy and technical challenges, Shanghai Electric partnered with France's EDF under a unique dual-track agreement to meet Oman's strict technical requirements, adopting a "split-team" approach with Chinese engineers handling solar field design, while the Oman team led substation construction. This approach resolved conflicts between international standards and local regulations. "Shanghai Electric's solution completely changed how fast we thought solar projects could connect to the grid," said Hamood al Shuaili, the Project director. "The team showed unmatched expertise and teamwork, they're world-class engineers setting new global standards." Furthermore, the Project has boosted local employment, strengthened energy security, and created lasting social value. With a community-focused approach, 90 per cent of operations and maintenance staff are local workers, and the core technical training programmes have been integrated into Oman's vocational education system, with the aim of building skills for the future.
