While the “Tahawul” program successfully built the digital infrastructure and streamlined the services for a modern government, Oman’s journey did not stop there.

The nation’s leadership understands that the long-term success of its digital agenda hinges not on technology alone, but on the strength of its human capital. This is where the story shifts from “what” is being transformed to “who” will lead the transformation.

This new chapter began in September 2025 with the launch of the “Irtiqa” program (meaning ‘ascension’ in Arabic). This initiative is not a separate effort but a direct and strategic continuation of the foundational work laid by Tahawul. The timing of its launch is significant, coming after Tahawul had reached an overall performance rate of 80% by mid-2025. It signals a strategic progression: with the digital hardware in place, Oman is now deliberately focused on building the human-centric “software.”

A Strategic Evolution: From Digitalizing to Leading

The Irtiqa program’s core mission is to cultivate a new generation of digital transformation leaders. The program is meticulously designed to target officials responsible for executing digital transformation initiatives across 57 government entities.

This is a profound shift in focus. While Tahawul focused on digitizing government processes, Irtiqa focuses on developing the people who will sustain and innovate upon those processes for the long term.  

The program is anchored in the belief that “digital knowledge represents a new capital and a fundamental driver of sustainable economic growth.” This perspective marks a significant evolution in national strategy, emphasizing that human talent is the ultimate catalyst for a knowledge-based economy.

Key Partnerships and a Culture of Excellence

To achieve its ambitious goals, the Irtiqa program is built on strategic partnerships with leading national institutions, including the Royal Academy of Management (RAA), the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), and the Omani Society for Human Resource Management (OSHRM).

This collaboration is designed to provide officials with specialized training modules that blend technical expertise with strategic thinking and leadership skills. A dialogue session at its launch, titled “Humans: The Core of Digital Transformation,” further underscored the central role of people in driving digital change.

A Holistic View: The Symbiotic Relationship

The true power of Oman’s digital transformation model lies in the symbiotic relationship between these two programs.

  • The Tahawul Phase (2021-2025): The initial phase focused on building the digital “hardware.” For example, a government team, guided by the Tahawul program, would streamline a paper-based service, like a business license application, and make it available on the Government Unified Portal. The success of this phase would be measured by quantifiable metrics like a 74% digitization rate and a surge in digital transactions.  
  • The Irtiqa Phase (2025 onwards): This phase focuses on the “human software.” A new leader, having gone through the Irtiqa program, would be equipped not just to manage the newly digitized service but to evolve it. They would use data to analyze user satisfaction and identify areas for improvement, continuously refining the service and integrating new technologies like AI to make it more proactive and personalized.  

Without the foundational work of Tahawul, a program like Irtiqa would lack the concrete digital environment for its leaders to operate within. Conversely, without the human capital cultivated by Irtiqa, the impressive gains of Tahawul could stagnate. This two-pronged, full-cycle approach—one building the infrastructure, the other empowering the leaders—is a model for national development and a testament to Oman’s commitment to sustained innovation.

Oman’s Crafted Digital Future

Oman’s digital transformation is a sophisticated, multi-phase national strategy.

The “Tahawul” program successfully laid the groundwork by building a modern digital government. The subsequent launch of the “Irtiqa” program represents a visionary leap forward, signaling a strategic investment in the one element that can guarantee long-term success: its people.

By cultivating a new generation of digitally-savvy leaders, Oman is not merely digitizing services; it is building a resilient, knowledge-based economy with human capital as its most valuable asset.