Conclusion of the Oman Collegiate Programming Contest 2025 Amid Fierce Competition and Outstanding Excellence
Conclusion of the Oman Collegiate Programming Contest 2025 Amid Fierce Competition and Outstanding Excellence
H.E. Dr. Ali Al Shidhani: The Contest Contributes to the Transition Toward a Digital Economy and Focuses on Encouraging Youth to Utilize Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies
Dr. Mohammed Al Badawi: Introduction of Preliminary Competitions for the First Time to Expand Participation – OMR 6,750 Awarded to Top Performers
In a scene that embodied the spirit of challenge and ambition, the Oman Collegiate Programming Contest 2025 concluded with remarkable success. The contest was organized by the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry for Communications and Information Technology, in collaboration with the academic partner Sultan Qaboos University, the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, the Programming Academy, and the technical partner OQ.
The event witnessed a highly competitive and creative atmosphere, with the participation of 194 contestants divided into 65 teams from 21 universities and colleges across various governorates of the Sultanate. The participation was evenly split between 97 male and 97 female students. The competition was held in the form of a five-hour programming session, during which participants tackled a series of programming challenges that required logical thinking and strong problem-solving skills using advanced programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++.
Students demonstrated high levels of creativity and innovation. Their performance was evaluated based on the number of correct solutions, speed of completion, and number of attempts. The contest is one of the key projects under the Makeen initiative, part of the Digital Industry Program within the framework of the National Digital Economy Program.
Winning Teams
After an intense and exciting competition, the top three winning teams in the Oman Collegiate Programming Contest 2025 were officially announced. Securing first place was Team Enigma from Sultan Qaboos University, comprising Ahmed Al Ghuraibi, Ahmed Al Shamlai, and Mohammed Al Abri, who delivered an outstanding performance in solving the programming challenges. Team Libre, also representing Sultan Qaboos University, claimed second place. The team included Qais Al Badawi, Mohammed Al Hinai, and Osama Al Hadhrami, who demonstrated exceptional speed and accuracy in their solutions. The third place was awarded to Team Al-Istiqama from the German University of Technology in Oman, consisting of Hajar Al Busaidi, Ahmed Al Housni, and Yousuf Al Raqishi, who showcased remarkable teamwork and determination in overcoming the challenges presented during the contest.
Youth as Drivers of Digital Transformation
H.E. further emphasized that Oman Vision 2040 places Omani youth at the center as key drivers of technological innovation across sectors. He stated:
“This contest is part of the government’s strategy to support the digital economy and reflects our commitment to preparing a generation capable of leading the digital transformation in the Sultanate of Oman.”
Future Directions
In conclusion, H.E. Dr. Al Shidhani congratulated all the winning teams and said:
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the winning students and commend their creativity and dedication in presenting innovative solutions. The Ministry will continue to support such competitions that contribute to talent development and encourage innovation, further enhancing Oman’s role in the global digital economy.”
Launch of Preliminary Competitions
For his part, Dr. Mohammed bin Khalfan Al Badawi, CEO of the Programming Academy, expressed his pride in the achievements of this year’s edition, confirming that the great success reflects the growing passion and interest in programming among university and college students in the Sultanate. He explained that this year’s edition was distinguished by the introduction of preliminary qualifying competitions for the first time, with three regional contests held across different areas. The first competition was held in Sohar, targeting universities and colleges in the North and South Al Batinah Governorates. The second took place in Nizwa, covering institutions in the Al Dakhiliyah, North Al Sharqiyah, and South Al Sharqiyah Governorates. Meanwhile, the third preliminary round was conducted in Muscat, focusing on universities and colleges located in the Muscat Governorate. These regional qualifiers played a key role in widening participation and preparing teams for the national finals.
Expanding Participation
Dr. Al Badawi clarified that this step contributed effectively to expanding the participation base, which positively impacted the development of students’ technical skills and fostered a spirit of healthy competition. He also noted that the winning teams were awarded cash prizes totaling OMR 6,750 and that three teams were selected to represent Oman in the regional contest to be held in the Arab Republic of Egypt. This step highlights the importance of encouraging youth to participate in global competitions and enhance their competitive skills—further reflecting the contest’s commitment to supporting participants and motivating them toward more innovation and growth in the field of programming.
Conclusion
Through these initiatives, the Oman Collegiate Programming Contest aims to instill a culture of digital innovation among Omani youth and provide a platform to showcase their creativity in solving technical challenges.