Oman used COMEX 2025 to announce an AI Designated Zone in Al Seeb, a Green Artificial Intelligence Alliance and a Digital Triangle connecting three digital zones. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology said the package was designed to attract local and international investment in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and advanced digital services. The 8 September event hosted more than 140 technology startups and over 200 government and private-sector entities, while agreements worth OMR 42 million were announced.
The designated zone is intended for AI-focused institutions and startups from Oman, the wider Middle East and Africa. The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones is assigned implementation and supervision, with the ministry serving as technical partner and a global tender planned for operating and financial models. The Digital Triangle adds planned green data centres, submarine-cable and fibre connectivity, while the Green AI Alliance focuses on efficient language models, advanced processors, clean energy and high-performance computing.
This is an ecosystem proposition rather than a single funding announcement. A specialised zone can reduce friction if it combines infrastructure, licensing, workspace, technical support and customer access. Its value to startups will depend on the actual cost and availability of compute, procurement opportunities, intellectual-property rules and the ability to expand beyond the zone. The OMR 42 million figure covered agreements announced at the wider event and should not be treated as a dedicated venture fund for the AI zone.
The delivery milestones should be concrete: site selection and build-out, tender awards, operating partners, power and connectivity capacity, tenant numbers, startup survival and investment attracted. Green claims also need measurable energy, water and emissions data rather than a label attached to conventional infrastructure. Oman has connected startup policy to physical infrastructure and environmental ambition in one plan. If the zone offers affordable capability and credible market access, it could become a useful bridge between local companies and regional demand; if those operating details remain unclear, the announcement will be harder to distinguish from a real-estate proposition.