Rewriting Finance:
Oman’s Strategic Leap into AI
1. Early Encounters: Smart Assistants and Strategic Benefits
At first, the changes felt subtle, like AI was quietly weaving its way into banking behind the scenes. I remember when banks started experimenting with chatbots, they seemed like a novelty. Now, nearly 75% of banks have them, and they’re actually useful. Then came intelligent automation. Suddenly, those tedious back-office processes were getting done faster and smarter. Fraud prevention started happening in real time, not just after the fact. It felt like the future had arrived early.
Banks like NBO and Bank Muscat weren’t just following trends, they were setting them. One of the many proofs is Bank Muscat's AI-powered contact center that won them the “AI Initiative of the Year” award in 2024. A call center that actually understands and anticipates your needs? That’s more than a tech win, it’s a mindset shift. And the fintechs? Wadiaa and Zumr were already ahead, reimagining how loans are approved and how savings work. Even legacy banks were jumping in with AI for lending, fraud, and AML. It was clear — this wasn’t experimentation anymore, it was a strategy.
2. The Critical Insight: Data as the Real Catalyst
3. My Strategic Compass for Oman's AI-Powered Financial Future
4. The Horizon: From Adoption to Leadership