The “Imkan Plus" program was launched today at the Mercure Hotel in Muscat, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of national professionals in the projects and construction sector, particularly engineers working in contracting and engineering consultancy firms registered with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Riyada). The program also aims to develop project and contract management skills in line with modern best practices, contributing to improved execution quality, greater spending efficiency in projects, and a reduction in change orders.
Organized by the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority in cooperation with Riyada, the five-month program—delivered over six weeks—complements the training initiatives previously launched by the Authority to qualify national professionals in government projects and contracts. “Imkan Plus" adopts a blended learning methodology that combines theoretical and practical components, focusing on developing engineers' technical and cognitive skills in project and contract execution and supervision. This approach enables participants to effectively address challenges throughout the project lifecycle and apply acquired knowledge to ongoing national projects.
Engineer Abdullah bin Saif Al Housni, Director of the Imkan Plus Program at the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority, stated that the launch of “Imkan Plus" aligns with the Authority's direction to qualify national engineers working in government and private contracts and projects. The program aims to enhance the efficiency of the project management ecosystem, achieve positive execution outcomes, and strengthen the readiness of national companies to support local content, ultimately improving project quality and contributing to development goals.
Al Housni added that the program targets national companies operating in contracting, civil and architectural engineering, and engineering consultancy. Statistics indicate that more than 7,200 companies in the construction and engineering consultancy sector were registered with Riyada in 2025. The program specifically targets 1,380 specialized construction companies, representing approximately 19% of the total companies operating in these activities, reflecting the size of the sector and the importance of investing in workforce development.
“Imkan Plus" adopts a clear methodology for selecting participants based on several criteria, including years of experience, engineering qualifications, skills and competency assessments, current job roles, and experience in project and contract execution and supervision. This ensures the selection of qualified professionals capable of maximizing the program's benefits and applying its outcomes in practice.
The program includes a comprehensive evaluation to measure participants' knowledge and skill development. Previous program results showed strong performance indicators, including a final success rate of 89%, reflecting the program's effectiveness in integrating theoretical knowledge with practical application.
Al Housni noted that the program follows a defined timeline and includes periodic mentoring after completion as part of an integrated training plan. Participants receive a certificate of completion, along with excellence certificates for high achievers, underscoring the Authority's commitment to fostering excellence and building national cadres capable of managing projects efficiently and professionally.
For his part, Engineer Ahmed bin Hamid Al Asmi, Director of the Local Value Added Department at Riyada, stated that the launch of “Imkan Plus" represents a national initiative aimed at enhancing the capabilities of professionals in project and contract management registered with the Authority. This aligns with the strategic objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which emphasizes building competitive national competencies locally and globally, as well as with government efforts to improve public spending efficiency and ensure the quality and timely delivery of projects. The program reflects the partnership between Riyada and the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority in developing the project management system through investment in national talent as the foundation for project success and sustainability.
Al Asmi explained that the program's importance lies in its direct role in strengthening governance and clarifying roles and responsibilities among contracting parties, thereby improving technical and schedule compliance in projects. It also supports local content initiatives by empowering national enterprises, creating genuine added value for the national economy, and enhancing government entities' confidence in local executing companies.
The broader “Imkan" Project Management Program plays a key role in qualifying national professionals in the construction and contract sectors through specialized training and mentoring programs based on modern methodologies and national and international standards in project and contract management. The program seeks to address key sector challenges, including the limited availability of specialized competencies, high rates of change orders, and varying levels of contractual understanding between public and private sector institutions. By building a qualified base of engineers and experts capable of managing projects efficiently and professionally, the program represents a qualitative step in advancing Oman's projects and construction ecosystem through investment in national talent and equipping them with modern knowledge and skills, contributing to the realization of Oman Vision objectives.