Panel Discussion on Enhancing Government Services
A panel discussion titled “Enhancing Government Services to Boost Productivity and Competitiveness” marked the start of the second day of Together We Progress Forum, focusing on improving government services and the role of digital transformation in enhancing institutional efficiency, competitiveness, and beneficiary satisfaction. The session brought together Their Excellencies from entities representing the telecommunications, energy, water, and investment sectors. The fourth edition of the forum was held in 2026 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre on 8 to 9 February.
The discussion highlighted the role of government services as a key enabler for achieving national priorities, the contribution of national platforms in improving users' experience, and the importance of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and innovation in simplifying procedures and developing services.
Participants emphasised that enhancing government services has become a national priority aligned with Oman Vision 2040, particularly amid the rapid growth of digital government applications, the increasing integration of national platforms, and ongoing efforts to develop work environments within government institutions.
His Excellency Eng. Saeed bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, highlighted that the Royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, May Allah protect and preserve him, prioritize greater integration among government entities, enhanced transparency, and faster service delivery. These efforts, he noted, are supported by clear performance measurement and empowerment mechanisms at both the institutional and individual levels.
Al Maawali revealed that beneficiary satisfaction with digital government services has reached approximately 80%. Usage of these services has increased by 400% since 2022, while growth in 2025 alone exceeded.
Meanwhile, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Nasser Al Sheidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, stated that around 4,100 government services are currently indexed on the Unified Government Services Portal. The platform allows users to access information on procedures, fees, required documents, and the level of digitization for each service, whether fully digital, partially digital, or conventional.
He added that digitalization efforts are being prioritized based on service demand. Company registration, for example, can now be completed within minutes through Oman Business platform, while company liquidation services will be introduced in later phases, alongside ongoing efforts to simplify procedures and re-engineer services.
