01-03-2025
Musannah Sports City design complete
MoL to provide 14,000 job-linked training opportunities; caution urged in decision regarding early retirement age
Muscat – The final design of Oman's highly anticipated Sports City project in Musannah has been completed, marking a key step in the country's sports infrastructure development.
The announcement was made by H E Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Culture in Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, during the third edition of 'Together We Progress' forum last week.
H E Sayyid Said confirmed that the project is now in the crucial phase of finalisation of its main components, with focus on securing funds. He added that the ministry is also prioritising investments in the creative industries, working alongside other government agencies to boost the cultural sector.
The Sports City will include multiple key facilities, with a 25,000-seat football stadium as its centrepiece. The project aligns with Oman's national sports strategy, which was updated in mid-2024 and focuses on four main pillars – community engagement, sports development, governance of sports bodies, and the sports economy.
H E Sayyid Said emphasised the fact that completion of Sports City and its flagship football stadium is part of broader efforts to develop Oman's sports sector and prepare it for regional competitions.
Employment-linked training
At the forum, H E Dr Mahad bin Said bin Ali Baowain, Minister of Labour, announced that the government will provide 14,000 training opportunities in 2025, up from 9,000 in 2024.
The training initiatives will include both on-the-job training and employment-linked programmes to equip the workforce with skills relevant to today's job market. The minister informed that government sector hiring is based on actual needs, with health, education and military sectors accounting for about 12,000 jobs annually.
H E Sayyid Salim Musallam al Busaidi, Undersecretary for Human Resources Development in Ministry of Labour (MoL), highlighted the government's focus on vocational education and training to improve employment outcomes in both public and private sectors. He noted that vocational training is increasingly aligned with market demands and that Oman's vocational education system is under continuous evaluation.
Retirement age
The forum also discussed the impact of retirement age decisions on the financial sustainability of the Social Protection Fund (SPF). H E Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Chairman of the SPF Board, stressed the need for accurate studies before making changes to the retirement age.
He warned that lowering the retirement age could increase pressure on the fund, requiring higher contributions to meet pension obligations. With insufficient studies currently available, he urged caution and a thorough review to ensure long-term financial sustainability.
