In a strategic partnership between Sultan Qaboos University and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, represented by the Oman National CERT, the Hadatha Centre for Cybersecurity Industry was officially inaugurated under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Amer Al-Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology. The ceremony was attended by His Highness Sayyid Dr. Fahd bin Al Julanda Al Said, the Vice-Chancellor, along with a number of officials from relevant institutions. The event took place at the Conference Hall.
This initiative aims to build a qualified national workforce capable of developing innovative technological solutions to protect data and national assets. It also seeks to train university students, graduates, researchers, and entrepreneurs in the field of cybersecurity, while enhancing the University’s role in establishing effective partnerships with both the public and private sectors through scientific research, development, and the provision of research consultancy in cybersecurity technologies. Furthermore, the initiative aims to stimulate promising investments in the field and localise technologies to keep pace with the latest global developments.
During the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Mohammed bin Mana Bait Suwailam, Director of the Communication and Information Research Centre, highlighted that cybersecurity is a shared national responsibility in the digital age, starting with the individual and extending to leadership. He emphasised the need for vigilance to counter the growing threats resulting from rapid technological advances, stressing that building a cybersecurity industry has become essential to safeguard data and assets at both individual and institutional levels. Dr. Bait Suwailim pointed out that the establishment of the Hadatha Centre for Cybersecurity at SQU represents a practical step towards developing national capabilities and contributing to digital transformation. He noted that the Centre is distinguished by its innovative research identity and modern facilities, which enable students and researchers to conduct advanced studies and practical experiments in areas such as malware analysis, penetration testing, network monitoring, and the development of artificial intelligence solutions. He also explained that the Centre aims to prepare students for the job market and support entrepreneurship by incubating applied research projects supervised by local and international experts, thereby contributing to digital transformation and driving sustainable development in the Sultanate of Oman.
Meanwhile, Eng. Badr bin Ali Al-Salhi, Director General of the Oman National CERT at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, affirmed that the Centre provides an intellectual and scientific space that nurtures creativity and accelerates pioneering ideas in the field of cybersecurity. In an era of accelerating digital threats and evolving cyber challenges, local innovations in this field have become a necessity. The Centre represents one of the ambitious national initiatives embodying Oman’s vision for a secure and prosperous digital economy based on innovation, excellence, and the development of national capabilities.
He added that this opening comes at a time when global reports indicate rising losses from cybercrime, which could exceed 10 trillion US dollars annually by 2030, while the average cost of a single breach in the Middle East is estimated at around 6.2 million US dollars. Eng Al-Salhi also noted that international market forecasts suggest the global cybersecurity market will exceed 500 billion US dollars by 2030, compared to around 246 billion US dollars in 2024, underscoring the need to accelerate local cybersecurity innovation to meet these escalating challenges.
Additionally, Al-Salhi stressed the importance of establishing specialised national centres such as Hadatha, for their role in stimulating technological solution innovation, transferring research to the marketplace, and enhancing national competitiveness in the cybersecurity sector. He explained that the Centre helps build cooperation between government bodies, universities, and the private sector, and supports the implementation of the national innovation framework developed by the Oman National CERT to achieve integration in this field.
He emphasised that the Hadatha Centre represents a practical step towards transforming local innovation into added economic and security value, highlighting that the success of the Centre depends on strong partnerships, continued investment in cybersecurity solutions, and linking research to market needs. He called for a focus on measuring impact and broadening participation to build a sustainable national cybersecurity ecosystem.
Rahma bint Nasser Al-Barashdi, Director of Cybersecurity Programmes at the Oman National CERT, delivered a presentation highlighting the role of the Hadatha Centre in establishing a dedicated cybersecurity industry that enhances and diversifies economic growth by focusing on human capital, and leveraging innovation and excellence. This initiative aligns with the cybersecurity industry programme, promotes a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in this field, and builds seamless links between government entities, the private sector, and academic institutions. It also aims to localise technologies in line with recent developments and to encourage research, innovation, and development.