Oman attracts $370mln investment in new data hosting, crypto mining centre

Oman attracts $370mln investment in new data hosting, crypto mining centre

SALALAH: Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) has welcomed a new entrant to the country's thriving data hosting and processing sector. The Afaaq for Advanced Technologies data hosting and cryptocurrency mining center was inaugurated in the Salalah Free Zone, with Eng Said Hamoud al Maawali, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, in attendance.

The center, set up by Exahertz International, is valued at over RO 135 million (around $370 million) and is the second major data hosting and processing venture that the Ministry has attracted in recent months. The first, Al-Madina Al-Khadraa, was announced in November 2022 and is valued at RO 150 million.

The combined investment of RO 285 million in these two data centers is a significant boost for Oman's digital economy. The centers will create hundreds of jobs for Omanis and help to position the country as a leading destination for data hosting and processing in the region.

In a speech at the inauguration ceremony, Eng Al Maawali said that the new data centers are a "major milestone" in Oman's digital transformation journey. He added that the centers will "help to accelerate the growth of our digital economy and create new opportunities for Omanis."

The Minister also