Those who have followed the progress of the modern Omani renaissance from its earliest days know that its mission was built around the talented contributions and long-term aspirations of the rising generations. If the principal product of the renaissance, and now of the renewed renaissance, is to be a bountiful future for today’s young Omanis, then it will be the youth of Oman who will co-create it. His Majesty Sultan Haitham is particularly keen to engage the younger generation in the manifestation of their own aspirations, working in a genuine and effective partnership with government.

His Majesty spoke of youth in inspirational terms in one of his earliest addresses as Sultan, that is on 23 February 2020: “Young people represent the nation’s rich resource, its inexhaustible wealth, the very nucleus of its future vision. They are its present and its future, and we will hear what they have to say and we will fulfil their needs and their aspirations; they will be afforded the care that they deserve.” In addition, as recently as 12 October 2022, he directed ministers at a cabinet meeting to find the most efficient channels of communication both to enlighten the rising generation on the urgent needs of the development process and to hear them describe their own vision of the future.

This focused attention on the potential and aspirations of youth was what motivated the creation by Royal Decree of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth with its brief to become the guardian of their evolution into healthy, responsible and creative adults, respectful of their heritage. The Ministry's functions are broad ranging, with an emphasis on such practical matters as encouraging competitive sport and rewarding and nurturing those who demonstrate excellence. The Ministry also offers support to private sports clubs and associations, overseeing their activities and ensuring their compliance with regulations in force. It organises meetings, matches and competitive events in bodies working in the sports field, controlling and supervising them in accordance with the laws and regulations in force, and organising meetings, matches and competitions in all sports and at all venues, domestic , regional and international.

His Majesty maintains an interest in the activities of sports and cultural clubs for their unique role in identifying talent and building teamwork and excellence in performance, values of paramount importance to the vision of Oman 2040. He sees the value of encouraging the existence of such facilities across all governorates and municipalities. In this context, the Council of Ministers approved the creation of sports and cultural clubs in Wilayat Amerat in Muscat, Wilayat Nakhl in Batinah South, Wilayat Taqah in Dhofar, Wilayat Izki in Dakhiliyah, Wilayat Dama Al Taiyin in Sharqiyah North, and Wilayat Dhank in Dhahirah. These clubs will serve as incubators for their members, offering a nurturing environment where they may pursue their passions and engage with others of like mind. Moreover, the clubs will arrange participation in, and occasionally host competitions, activities and other events.

Omani women have made their mark in many individual and team sports activities, proving their ability to compete locally, regionally and internationally, in club and field events, and across multiple sports, with courage and honour. Backing their efforts are the supportive entities within the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Oman Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, federations, sports committees and clubs. All are enthusiastic in their backing for women’s sports in general and in spreading a culture of women’s sports in the Sultanate of Oman. Their participation in competitive events is encouraged and their victories celebrated. The influence of leading women sports figures is having an impact on lifestyles, with fitness being given more attention among all age groups, and the dismissal of any notion that women’s sports were not in alignment with the finest customs and traditions of Omani society.

The creation of the Women’s Club for Sports and Cultural Creativity, announced on 17 October 2021, is consistent also with the objectives of Oman 2040, which envisions women taking on ever more ambitious roles in economic, social, political and civil life. While on the one hand this trend will raise women’s status in society, on the other hand, it will bring an energetic, motivated and much needed resource to bear on national development strategy, which will be heavily dependent on innovative and sustainable approaches.

A new project joined the list of initiatives celebrating youth and incentivising young people to strive for the highest realisation of their positive potential. On 26 October 2022, Oman’s Youth Day, Youth Centre spaces were launched, consisting of integrated areas offering services to young people that are creative or innovative in nature. Creative pursuits covered include photography, drawing and music, and facilities are also available for experimenting with emerging technologies and the like. The spaces also house well-equipped studios and laboratories, as well as training and fitness areas and multi-purpose areas. The Youth Centres also house libraries of books and resources to nourish curious young minds. It is hoped that these knowledge and creativity hubs will bring together young people in a spirit of enterprise and resourcefulness, expanding their horizons of both aspiration and achievement.

Also celebrating Youth Day, 26 October was selected as the occasion for announcement of the results of the Youth Excellence Award 2022. The Award is the brainchild of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and has as its principal aim to fuel a spirit of competition amongst Omani youth, to encourage skills building, and to build an informed, responsible and creative generation.

The values promoted by the Award are in alignment with the pillars on which Oman 2040 revolves, namely: entrepreneurship as a map to a competitive economy; youthful innovation as the engine of a creative human society; and concern for the environment as the path to sustainability.

Insofar as concerns youth innovation, the Ministry has been inviting support for its many youth initiatives spread across the governorates. It is looking for expertise, as well as logistical and financial support, to drive forward these community-oriented projects.

Sport has come a long way in the Sultanate of Oman in recent decades, thanks to a vast investment in infrastructure and club facilities, and the impetus given to young sports enthusiasts by the many prestigious international events hosted by Oman. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth has been heavily involved in the overhaul of the sports infrastructure, upgrading stadiums and gyms and building new quarters for sports clubs. The Sultanate of Oman manages 68 government sports facilities that provide a public service to federations, clubs and sports committees, as well as government and private agencies and institutions. Sports clubs are the most prevalent type of facility supported by government, representing 44 of the 68 state-supported entities. In addition to the clubs, Oman has 13 sports centres distributed across the nation and 11 sports complexes.

Data provided by the National Centre for Statistics and Information shows that Omani sports federations played in 87 different competitions and championships locally and internationally in 2021. They also took part in 79 training courses, 35 sports camps and 9 conferences. In all, Omani sportsmen and women brought home 69 medals, including 22 gold, 24 silver and 23 bronze.

Investment in the sports sector was up, with data showing 745 individual investments in the Sultanate of Oman’s sports sector in 2021 AD, of which 95% was by Omani nationals.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth continues to be active in sponsoring and organising international events and championships. The hosting of such events is frequently highly contested internationally, given their significance in raising the profile of a nation or venue. There is a direct link connecting the sponsorship of hotly contested sports that attract media attention and economic stimulus. Sectors such as tourism stand to benefit particularly well. In the case of Oman, there is the additional benefit of portraying the Sultanate of Oman as an unusually stable environment for tourism and business and an attractive investment prospect, given its strategic location, smooth infrastructure, and political, economic and social stability.

Oman scored many sporting victories in 2022, at Gulf, Arab and Asian events. Whether individual or team successes, they were earned with the careful support and attention given to sports and to athletes in the Sultanate of Oman. This attention has paid off in many other ways too, in the fostering of an accomplished and creative young generation who have given their best for the honour of raising the flag of the Sultanate of Oman in many international forums.