The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has launched the National Open Data Portal, a digital platform that enables access to a wide range of government data. The portal enhances the availability of data across various sectors and fields, supporting the principles of transparency and community engagement, while serving commercial and research objectives and empowering entrepreneurs.

The Open Data Policy was issued in June 2020, outlining the basic standards for making open data available from various units of the State’s Administrative Apparatus. The Sultanate of Oman aims to enhance its global performance index over the coming years and is working to expand the scope of government data to ensure the comprehensiveness of available information.

Specialised teams have been established within each government entity to provide open data. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has formed its own dedicated open data team, and regularly organises workshops with these teams to introduce the principles of the Open Data Publication Policy, clarify the criteria used to assess the performance of government entities in this field, and share best practices for classifying data prior to publication. The platform also places emphasis on the quality of data published by each entity, encouraging specialised teams to update it regularly and accurately.

The number of datasets published on the platform has exceeded 200, covering 31 topics including tourism, transport, education, business, and others. A total of 57 government entities have published open data that has enriched the platform, with 2,053 dataset downloads recorded. The platform has also registered over 700,000 visits. This volume of open data is considered a positive indicator of the efforts made by the specialised teams within each entity, particularly given that the platform is still in its pilot phase. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has stated that it is working in cooperation with all government entities to further enrich the platform with additional data in preparation for its official launch at the end of 2025.

It is worth noting that the National Open Data Portal is available in both Arabic and English, and it supports accessibility for persons with disabilities. In line with its efforts to enhance digital services, the platform provides communication channels with the public, most notably a dedicated email address for receiving enquiries, with responses issued within a maximum of 15 days in accordance with United Nations standards for open data evaluation. The platform also receives complaints, suggestions, and reports, in addition to offering a mechanism for evaluating the open data and the extent to which users benefit from it, reflecting the Ministry’s commitment to delivering a technological project that serves all segments of society and those interested in best practices.