PHOTO
For decades, Oman’s story was defined by its natural wealth — copper, gas and fisheries — the tangible resources that built its early prosperity. Yet as the global economy moves towards knowledge, creativity and innovation, the Sultanate of Oman’s most promising export may be something far less visible but infinitely more powerful: its way of thinking.
In today’s world, competitiveness is no longer determined by what a nation produces, but by how it thinks — how it learns, innovates, collaborates and adapts. Oman’s quiet transformation over the past two decades reveals a country preparing to compete not through scale, but through intellect, ethics and a distinct cultural mindset.
A Changing Global Landscape
Across the world, the balance between natural and intellectual resources has shifted dramatically. According to the World Bank’s Human Capital Index (2023), education and skills now account for over 70 per cent of global wealth, up from around 40 per cent in the 1990s. Meanwhile, Unesco’s Global Education Monitoring Report notes that nations investing in creativity and knowledge exchange generate higher innovation output per capita.
Oman has anticipated this shift. The Oman Vision 2040 identifies “Knowledge, Innovation and National Capabilities” as a cornerstone for sustainable progress, calling for a transition “from a natural-resource-based economy to a knowledge-based and innovation-driven one.” This policy direction signals a clear conviction: the most valuable resource of the future is not found underground, but within people’s minds.
The Omani Way of Thinking
What distinguishes Oman’s approach to development is not just its pursuit of knowledge, but the character of its intellectual evolution. Oman’s cultural DNA is defined by balance, reflection and dialogue — values that shape the way its people and institutions approach growth.
Where some countries chase acceleration at all costs, Oman advances deliberately, ensuring that economic transformation is matched by social cohesion. Its governance model is built on consultation (Shura), its diplomacy on mediation, and its education policies on ethics and sustainability. These are not abstract values — they are strategic assets, forming the foundation of an intellectual resource that the world increasingly needs: measured, human-centred wisdom.
From Minerals to Mindsets
This shift from material to intellectual capital is already visible across Oman’s economy. Initiatives such as the Oman Technology Fund, Knowledge Oasis Muscat, and innovation programmes under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation are nurturing a generation of thinkers and entrepreneurs.
In 2024, Omani startups attracted growing regional investment — especially in green technologies, logistics and digital services. Data from Ithraa indicates that SMEs exports grew by nearly 18 per cent year-on-year, while the Global Innovation Index 2023 ranked Oman among the top 10 countries worldwide in terms of improvement in innovation output.
Education, too, is being redesigned to prepare youth for the knowledge economy. The national Education Strategy 2040 emphasises entrepreneurship, applied learning and creativity, while universities across Oman are establishing incubators and mentorship programmes to transform ideas into sustainable ventures.
Intellectual Diplomacy
Oman’s intellectual resources are not limited to technology and education — they extend to diplomacy and soft power. The Sultanate of Oman’s global reputation for neutrality and constructive dialogue is, in itself, an intellectual export. In an era of geopolitical tension, Oman’s approach to negotiation — grounded in respect, balance and listening — offers lessons far beyond the region.
Looking ahead, Oman has the potential to turn its centuries-old culture of dialogue into a global learning model — sharing expertise in mediation, sustainability and cultural intelligence. This would represent a new form of international cooperation: exporting not just goods or services, but values and frameworks for coexistence.
Looking Ahead
As the energy transition accelerates, nations that once relied on minerals are redefining themselves as exporters of ideas, systems and thought. Oman’s opportunity lies precisely here — in converting its values into intellectual capital, and its experience into globally relevant know-how.
The future will not belong to the fastest, but to the most thoughtful. Oman’s strength lies in its ability to think deeply, act deliberately and grow sustainably — qualities that the world increasingly seeks but rarely finds.
The next chapter of Oman’s story may not be written in barrels or tonnes, but in ideas, values and perspectives that travel far beyond its borders.
Five Takeaways
1. Oman’s next great export may be intellectual, not material. The country’s human capital and mindset are emerging as core assets in the global knowledge economy.
2. The world’s wealth is now primarily human-made. With over 70 per cent of global value derived from education and skills, Oman’s investment in talent is timely and strategic.
3. Vision 2040 anchors knowledge and innovation at the heart of national growth. This shift reflects a future-oriented economic and social model.
4. Oman’s diplomacy and development ethos are part of its intellectual capital. Its reputation for balance and dialogue has real global value.
5. The future belongs to nations that think before they move. Oman’s deliberate pace is not caution — it is quiet confidence, grounded in wisdom and cultural intelligence.
