By H.E. Dr. Hilal bin Abdullah Al Sinani
Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Tunisia
On October 26 each year, the Sultanate of Oman celebrates Omani Youth Day, a national occasion that reaffirms the pivotal role of young people in the country’s Renewed Renaissance, their responsibility in safeguarding national achievements, and their contribution to shaping the future. Sustainable development is built not on resources and capabilities alone, but fundamentally on people, their knowledge, their capacity for initiative, and their willingness to assume responsibility.
This year’s celebration coincides with the implementation of the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan (2026–2030), which marks a new phase in translating the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 into development programmes and priorities. This phase underscores the importance of investing in national talent, enhancing labour market efficiency, diversifying the economy, and expanding opportunities for young people to participate actively in development, particularly in the digital economy, technological innovation, and artificial intelligence—sectors that are currently driving global growth.
The formulation of Oman Vision 2040 was based on an extensive participatory approach that brought together more than 41,000 participants from across society, including young people and school and university students. This approach reflects a clear recognition of the importance of involving society in defining national priorities and acknowledges that the future is built on a more sustainable foundation when it incorporates the aspirations of the generations who will shape it.
In 2026, efforts to support Omani citizens took on a more practical dimension through the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, may God protect and preserve him. These directives called for accelerating the implementation of the employment programme for jobseekers, which aims to provide 60,000 job opportunities, including 10,000 positions in the civilian and military government sectors and 50,000 positions in government-owned companies and private-sector institutions.
The Royal Directives also included the allocation of OMR 50 million to economically and investment-oriented projects that contribute to creating employment opportunities for citizens. This was achieved by increasing the allocation for the Governorates Development Programme under the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan from OMR 220 million to OMR 270 million. In addition, OMR 100 million was allocated to support the Social Housing Programme for 2026 and 2027, reaffirming the importance of providing young people with family and social stability as they embark on their professional lives. The directives also extended the payment of the Job Security Allowance for one year to eligible beneficiaries, in accordance with the applicable regulations.
These measures are aligned with the objectives of the Eleventh Five-Year Development Plan, which is expected to generate approximately 300,000 job opportunities for Omanis across the public and private sectors during the 2026–2030 period. The significance of these targets extends beyond the number of jobs created. It also lies in the need to strengthen alignment between education, training, and the evolving needs of the economy; foster an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship; and adapt skills and qualifications to meet the requirements of emerging professions. Such efforts would enable youth-led small and medium-sized enterprises to establish themselves in local and regional markets, while allowing young Omanis to apply their capabilities across various sectors and governorates.
At the institutional level, the establishment of the Youth Centre under Royal Decree No. 38/2026 represents an important step towards strengthening Oman’s youth development framework. The centre’s responsibilities include contributing to the preparation of young leaders, developing future-oriented digital and modern leadership skills, identifying talent, fostering creativity and innovation, supporting business incubators, and expanding channels of communication with young people to ensure that their views are heard when policies and programmes are developed. These efforts complement the ongoing work to formulate the National Youth Strategy 2040, supporting long-term planning that addresses young people’s needs and aspirations.
In my capacity as Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the sisterly Republic of Tunisia, I see youth cooperation as a promising avenue for deepening relations between our two countries through the promotion of “youth diplomacy” as a means of building bridges between societies. The participation of Tunisian young people in the Mustad International Camp, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman in September 2026, offered a practical example of meaningful engagement, knowledge-sharing, and the development of leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Initiatives of this kind pave the way for broader cooperation in knowledge, culture, and innovation, while providing young people with opportunities to connect and establish partnerships that transcend geographical boundaries.
Investing in young people means investing in the ability of nations to continue advancing with confidence and sustainability. This requires policies to be matched by tangible opportunities, ambitions to be translated into clear pathways for action, and young people to be given genuine space to participate, take initiative, and assume responsibility.
On Omani Youth Day, we renew our conviction that young people are not merely the promise of the future; they are partners in the responsibilities of the present and in shaping the world of tomorrow. By continuing to invest in people and strengthening cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and Tunisia, we can broaden the horizons of joint Arab action and transform the energy and potential of young people into achievements that contribute to the prosperity and stability of our nations.
TunisianMonitorNews
