Oman’s rapid progress in the use of information communication technology is confirmed by the United Nations biannual E-Government Survey 2012. Oman is ranked 16th in the world on the UN eParticipation Index. The eParticipation index is indicative on how governments create an environment in which citizens can be more active and supportive of their governments.

There is also good improvement in terms of online citizen and business services indices, which show that the Omani Government and the Information Technology Authority (ITA) policies are yielding results. The ranking for eServices this year is at 35 compared to its position of 55 in the 2010 Report. Similarly, Oman has improved its overall ranking on the UN eGovernment Development Index, moving from 82nd position to 64th out of 193 countries, advancing 18 positions from the 2010 Report.

Oman was listed out of a total of 25 Member States that offer separate m-government sites, 14 such states also include specific sections on their national websites for vulnerable groups such as the poor, illiterate, blind, old, young, and women.

The eGovernment Report evaluates components related to Online Services, eParticipation, Telecomm and Infrastructure and Human Capital. Comprising the online services index, four sections correspond to the four stages of e-government development: emerging, enhanced, transactional and connected. In the 2012 Report Oman has been evaluated at 57% on stage four labeled connected, which represents the most sophisticated level in the online e-government initiatives. This is due to the rise in available citizen-centric services and the government’s is willingness to give citizens a voice in policy making.

Remarking on the results, ITA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Salim Al Ruzaiqi said, “The Report shows that the Oman Government has made a great advancement in the field of eParticipation, another main factor in determining eReadiness. Oman has advanced from a rank of 76 in 2010 to a rank of 16 in the 2012 Report. eParticipation is important as a tool of communication between the Government and its citizen.

“Oman has progressed in online service delivery. And, we would like to thank all the government organizations who have helped in realizing these international achievements. Moving forward, entities need to move completely to a citizen-centric and integrated approach where eServices are targeted to citizens to provide tailor-made services,” Dr. Salim added.

When it comes to serving populations with different visual abilities through using ICTs, it is not just Europe that carries the torch of innovation. Other countries from several regions of the world also offer services to read their government websites aloud via a speaker or headphones. Among them are Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates in Western Asia, Japan in East Asia, Malaysia in Southeastern Asia, and Chile in South America.

As measured by factors that focus on commitment to a whole-of-government approach, Oman is listed with several other countries as the top performers. Oman was also listed among countries with government websites providing a statement ‘follow us on Facebook or Twitter’.  

The United Nations eGovernment Survey 2012 highlights the speed with which governments across the world are adopting technology to enhance public sector efficiencies and streamline governance systems to improve service delivery and support sustainable development.

Like His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s speech at the Annual Session of the Council of Oman in 2008 ‘eGovernment leaders worldwide recognise that innovative technology solutions are essential to further economic growth, job creation and social sectors.’

To improve service delivery, governments around the world are rethinking the way they do things, not only in terms of the way the public sector is organised, but by placing greater emphasis on joint development and cooperation between ministries, regions and municipalities.

Also highlighted by the United Nations Survey is how governments are using technologies like computers, tablets and mobile phones to improve service delivery to citizens. Mobile applications for parking in Muscat, the Ministry of Educations portal are all examples of this trend – examples which have won national and international acclaim in recent years.