Tuesday 05 / May / 2026
Muscat: Oman Investment Authority (OIA) today announced the winners of the third edition of its Excellence Award, which comprises eight categories. The award serves as a strategic tool aimed at stimulating competitiveness among companies through a rigorous scientific approach based on measurement and close alignment with national objectives.
OQ Group won the "Investment and Job Creation" category; Omantel won the "Financial Performance and Sustainability" category; Omran Group won the "Private Sector Engagement" category; Muscat International School project, under Oman Brunei Investment Company, won the "Distinguished Project" category; Nama Holdings Group, represented by Water Services Company and Nama Distribution Company, won the "Local Content and Innovation" category; Be'ah (Environmental Services Holding Company) won the "Support for SMEs and Startups" category; Omantel, represented by its "Maqroo" project, won the "Social Investment" category. Meanwhile, the newly introduced "Collaboration in Emerging Projects" category was awarded to the "Activation of Economic Diplomacy" project, implemented in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, and the "Indirect Omanisation in the Technology and Communications Sector" project, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour.
The announcement was made during the 10th "Rawabet" (Connections) Forum, an annual platform designed to enhance integration and align visions among OIA's portfolio companies and showcase key achievements and joint initiatives. The forum, organised by Oman Investment Authority in Muscat, was held under the patronage of Sheikh Ghosan Hilal Al Alawi, Chairman of the State Financial and Administrative Audit Authority.
Abdulsalam Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority, affirmed that the Authority is translating the targets of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan and Oman Vision 2040 into tangible results by focusing on priority vital sectors such as tourism, the digital economy, and manufacturing industries, with the goal of economic diversification and consolidating the developmental impact of its investments. He stated that the Authority's companies play a pivotal role in this direction by implementing high-impact projects that contribute to increasing value addition and achieving sustainable growth.
During the forum, a package of new initiatives was announced, resulting from the annual brainstorming sessions organized by the Authority with the participation of its portfolio companies. This year, these sessions produced 20 initiatives that underwent multiple stages of evaluation and study, from which the Steering Committee approved 10 initiatives. These represent practical steps toward transitioning from planning to implementation and enhancing value addition to the national economy.
Several strategic agreements were inked during the forum, reflecting the commitment of Oman Investment Authority and its companies to strengthening high-impact partnerships, driving integration pathways, and enabling projects with sustainable economic and developmental impact.
The forum included a main panel discussion with the participation of several CEOs of OIA portfolio companies, focusing on the role of these companies in activating the targets of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan and Oman Vision 2040. The discussion reviewed the companies' experiences in enhancing integration, achieving operational efficiency, and driving growth across their respective sectors, while also focusing on future opportunities and challenges.
It is worth noting that Oman Investment Authority Excellence Award, with its eight categories, embodies the Authority's efforts to incentivise its portfolio companies to achieve sustainable performance and create value addition for the national economy, as well as to highlight successful models and focus on their achievements and contributions to supporting the economic growth journey.
