Oman Advances Smart Grid Ambitions with Digital Twin AI Initiative
Oman moves toward predictive electricity management with AI-powered digital twins.
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Image Credit- Chetan Jha/ MIT Sloan Management Review Middle East
Oman is taking a significant step toward digital transformation with the introduction of a Digital Twin AI solution tailored for the electrical engineering sector. Following feasibility assessments, the technology is being considered for deployment across key areas, including national electricity consumption, marking a pivotal move in the country’s broader push toward smarter infrastructure.
Digital twin technology, an AI-powered innovation gaining traction globally across industries such as healthcare and engineering, creates dynamic virtual replicas of physical systems. Continuously updated through IoT sensor data and machine learning, these models enable real-time monitoring, simulation, and predictive analysis.
For utilities, this means the ability to optimize performance, anticipate failures, and improve operational resilience without disrupting live systems.
The initiative was spotlighted during a PCS Roadshow at the Kempinski Hotel, where stakeholders, including the Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), evaluated its potential impact. Promoted by Al Ghurair, the solution was positioned as a cost-efficient, high-speed, and safety-enhancing innovation capable of minimizing operational errors while driving industry advancement.
“We are actively considering the Digital Twin project proposal of Al Ghurair, and after weighing the pros and cons, we will consider implementing the same. We hope that the electricity consumers can benefit from it,” said Imad al Zadjali, Head of Tenders and Contracts at OETC.
From a strategic standpoint, digital twins offer a compelling value proposition for Oman’s energy sector. By enabling real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, the technology can significantly enhance electricity consumption management.
Simulation of usage patterns allows utilities to identify inefficiencies, optimize load distribution, and advance energy conservation efforts, aligning closely with Oman’s sustainability ambitions.
Tariq al Barwani, TechOman Founder and President, underscored the broader national opportunity: “Digital Twin is an exciting step for Oman because it means we can create a digital copy of real things like cities, buildings, or even systems and use it to test ideas, predict problems, and make better decisions before doing anything in real life.”
“It’s a smart way to save time, cost, and improve efficiency, especially in areas like infrastructure, energy, and transport. What’s important now is not just the tech itself, but how we use it and how ready we are in terms of skills and collaboration across sectors. If we get that right, it can really help Oman become smarter and future-ready,” he added.
At an operational level, the technology translates complex infrastructure into actionable insights. K Jacob John, CEO of Construction and Manufacturing at Al Ghurair, explained: “It scans the setup, takes it into a virtual environment, and analyses complex issues. Thousands of research datasets are fed into the system, enabling it to identify overloads, optimize usage, and resolve problems without interfering with the real powerhouse.”
Designed for critical electrical infrastructure, the Digital Twin solution equips operators with advanced decision-support capabilities. In environments where vast volumes of real-time data can overwhelm manual processes, such tools offer a pathway to faster, more accurate, and safer decision-making.
As Oman evaluates implementation, the initiative highlights a broader regional shift: the convergence of AI, infrastructure, and sustainability is no longer theoretical—it is becoming foundational to how energy systems are designed, managed, and optimized.
