Second Annual Student Startups Forum Begins in Muscat
Muscat, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The activities of the Second Annual Student Startups Forum began today. Organized by the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), the forum aims to empower students and transform their entrepreneurial ideas into sustainable projects. The event was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Numair Salim Al Said.
The two-day forum, held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), features the participation of more than 30 student-led startups and 30 strategic partners, including decision-makers and investors. This year’s edition focuses significantly on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in the future of entrepreneurship.
Dr. Said Hamad Al Rubaii, Vice Chancellor of UTAS, stated in his speech that the forum represents a stage of maturity in the university's entrepreneurial path. He noted that UTAS has transitioned from individual initiatives to an integrated ecosystem, driven by the belief that a student is not merely a job seeker, but a creator of opportunities, a partner in development, and a driver of the knowledge economy.
He added that the university has worked to empower students through a stimulating educational environment, active business incubators, and genuine partnerships with state institutions and the private sector. These efforts have resulted in remarkable growth in the number of student startups and entrepreneurs, as well as local and regional accolades. He emphasized that the forum focuses on the sustainability of startups, linking them with investors to transform them into competitive economic entities in line with Oman Vision 2040.
On his part, Dr. Said Salim Jaboob, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies, Research, and Innovation, emphasized that the forum embodies the integration of scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship as a unified system supporting the knowledge economy. He noted that UTAS works to direct research outputs and student projects toward applied solutions capable of evolving into startups through technical incubators and innovation programs.
Dr. Jaboob revealed significant growth statistics for the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Student startups reached 364 companies in 2025, marking a 435% growth compared to 2024. Student entrepreneurs reached 293, an increase of 37.6%.
He added that the number of entrepreneurial and technical incubators rose to 9, compared to 6 in 2024 and 3 in 2023. As many as 250 entrepreneurial training programs were also implemented within a single year.
He clarified that the university supported the system by funding technical incubators with RO 183,564 and the entrepreneurship portfolio with RO 12,900.
The forum’s activities include an exhibition of student-led startups, the launch of a book dedicated to student startups, specialized training workshops, and consultation and mentoring sessions to support the sustainability of these entrepreneurial ventures.
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