First digital twin technology introduced in Oman

The Sultanate of Oman has seen the introduction of its first digital twin solution for electrical engineering, promoters announced this week. The AI-powered platform was showcased at a PCS Roadshow held at the Kempinski Hotel in Muscat, where electricity suppliers and stakeholders, including the Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), attended to evaluate the technology’s potential to monitor, simulate and predict the behaviour of electrical assets in real time.

"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.

How the technology works and who presented it

Digital twin technology creates a dynamic virtual replica of a physical asset, process or system that updates in real time through IoT sensor data, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Al Ghurair, identified in the roadshow as the promoter of the initiative, described the solution as designed specifically for critical electrical sectors where real-time data, predictive analytics and simulation can reduce risk and improve decision-making.

K Jacob John, CEO of Construction and Manufacturing at Al Ghurair, explained the approach in practical terms: “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, optimise usage and resolve problems without interfering with the real powerhouse.”

Benefits and sector relevance

• Real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance to reduce unplanned outages.
• Simulation of energy consumption patterns to identify efficiency improvements.
• Decision-support tools for operators managing complex electrical networks.
• Cost-cutting measures through faster, safer and error-reducing interventions.

At the roadshow, Al Ghurair emphasised that the digital twin is "highly cost-cutting, efficient, fast, safe, and prevents errors," positioning the technology as a way to optimise performance without affecting live operations. The solution aims to address the practical limits of manual decision-making when large volumes of real-time data are involved.

Tariq al Barwani, Founder and President of TechOman, framed the arrival of digital twin capability as a strategic step for Oman: "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." He added, “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.”

Organisers and stakeholders said they will carry out further feasibility studies before full implementation. Proponents argue the platform could help Oman meet energy-efficiency targets and "aligns with Oman's sustainability goals and contributes to a greener future for the country," offering utilities and consumers new tools for resilience and optimisation as the technology is assessed for broader deployment.