Sultan Qaboos University celebrated its Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years since the historic Royal Visit of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, may he rest in peace. The celebration took place at the Grand Hall of the Cultural Centre under the patronage of His Excellency Sultan bin Salim Al-Habsi, Minister of Finance, in the presence of a number of their highnesses, excellencies, and distinguished academics.

The ceremony commenced with the National Anthem and a recitation from the Holy Qur’an, followed by a keynote address from Professor Amer bin Saif Al-Hinai, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research.

Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Professor Al-Hinai stated, “On this memorable day, the University was honoured by the historic visit of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, may he rest in peace. It was the true launch of research in the Sultanate of Oman.” He emphasised that the event is more than a celebration; it is an opportunity to reaffirm SQU’s outstanding academic and research contributions, which have elevated Oman’s standing in the regional and international scientific community.

This year’s celebration features a scientific conference titled “Scientific Research and Sustainability: A Vision for Change,” which aims to explore innovative funding models and partnerships to ensure sustainable financial support for research, while also developing precise tools to measure impact.

Over the past years, SQU has supported more than 4,500 research projects with funding exceeding 78 million Omani Rials. The University currently offers 13 research funding programmes, including 8 external schemes such as the Royal Grant for Strategic Research Projects, Strategic Research Projects funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, and external consultancy projects. These are complemented by 5 internal funding schemes, including Internal Grant Research Projects and Joint International Research Funding. Commenting on the Royal Grant, Professor Al-Hinai stated, “The Royal Grant for Strategic Research Projects is an investment that returns benefits to Omani society both economically and socially.”

During the ceremony, Professor Al-Hinai also announced the winning research projects that have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and societal impact. These awards highlight the University’s commitment to recognising and supporting outstanding contributions to scientific advancement.

The celebration is accompanied by a research exhibition running from 5–8 May, featuring a variety of thematic corners including: Research Projects, the new Research Management System (RMS) Platform, Scientific Publishing, the new SQU Academic Journals Management System, Innovation and Technology Transfer, Postgraduate Studies, and Research Sustainability.

The event underscores SQU’s enduring commitment to advancing knowledge, research excellence, and sustainable development in Oman and beyond.