Muscat:The "Oman University Programming Contest 2026" has officially begun at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. The event sees participation from 48 teams, totaling 144 contestants, and will span over two days.
According to Oman News Agency, the contest was inaugurated by Dr. Ali Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology. The competition aims to unearth national talent in programming, enhance analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and prepare national competencies capable of utilizing modern technologies to innovate solutions supporting the digital economy.
Mahmoud Said Al Majeeni, General Supervisor of the Contest, highlighted the significance of enhancing digital skills among Omani youth and improving the technical capabilities of university students. He mentioned that the top-performing teams will qualify for the international contest in Egypt next December. The Ministry plans to organize specialized training camps for these teams to develop their programming skills and teamwork before their international participation.
Dr. Sultan Salem Al Yahya'ei, Regional Director of the contest, noted the focus on essential skills for computer science and programming students in the AI era. The contest is conducted in collaboration with the 'Programming Academy' and features partnerships with OQ, Sohar International, OPAL, and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.