Oman Aims to Build Semiconductor Ecosystem

Sultanate partners with global tech firms to develop local talent and capabilities

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Oman is making a strategic push to establish a thriving semiconductor ecosystem, hosting a recent forum that brought together global industry leaders, investors, and policymakers. The effort is part of the country's broader economic diversification plan, leveraging partnerships with companies like GSME, Lumotive, and Movandi to develop local talent, R&D, and manufacturing capabilities in semiconductors and related technologies.

Why it matters

Semiconductors are the foundational building blocks of the digital economy, powering everything from consumer electronics to critical infrastructure. By cultivating a domestic semiconductor industry, Oman aims to position itself as a regional hub for innovation, attract foreign investment, and reduce its reliance on oil and gas exports.

The details

The Semiconductor Ecosystem Enablement & Investment Forum in Oman featured keynotes, panel discussions, and networking around topics like semiconductor design, testing, packaging, and applications in areas like 5G, satellite communications, and autonomous systems. Key participants included GSME, a microelectronics design firm that has established an Oman-based center of excellence, and Lumotive and Movandi, two semiconductor companies that are setting up operations in the country.

  • The Semiconductor Ecosystem Enablement & Investment Forum took place during the week of Super Bowl LX in 2026.
  • GSME opened its Oman design center in 2021 and has since designed and fabricated the 'Oman 1' and 'Oman 2' chips on a TSMC 65nm process.
  • Lumotive and Movandi announced plans to establish new engineering and product development centers in Oman in 2023.

The players

GSME

A California-based microelectronics design firm that has established a center of excellence in Oman, focusing on power management and RF ICs, as well as power controllers.

Lumotive

A semiconductor company based in Seattle that develops metamaterials-based optical beam scanning technology, and is setting up a new design center in Oman.

Movandi

A California-based firm specializing in 5G, satellite, and fixed wireless access RF systems, which is expanding into Oman with a new office and engineering capabilities.

ITHCA Group

The investment arm of the Sultanate of Oman, which is spearheading efforts to build the country's semiconductor ecosystem through partnerships and investments.

Oman Investment Authority (OIA)

The sovereign wealth fund of Oman, managing over $60 billion in assets and playing a key role in driving the country's economic diversification efforts.

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What they’re saying

“Our Center of Excellence in Oman underscores Lumotive's commitment to building world-class semiconductor and system design capabilities for a global market. We are proud to establish Muscat as one of Lumotive's key global design centers, enabling customer engineering and advancing innovation in programmable optical semiconductors.”

— Dr. Sam Heidari, CEO, Lumotive (Forbes)

“Movandi's expansion beyond 5G into new markets, like satellite communications, fixed wireless networks, and AI-driven connectivity is consistent with our expansion in Oman. We are enthusiastic about Movandi's potential to drive this next wave of innovation and growth with support from Oman.”

— Maryam Rofougaran, CEO and Co-founder, Movandi (Forbes)

“We believe this collaboration can deliver measurable value for IMS and Oman.”

— Dr. Muhammad Mujeeb-U-Rahman, CEO, Integrated Medical Sensors (Forbes)

What’s next

The Oman government is expected to announce new policy initiatives and incentives to further attract semiconductor companies and talent to the country in the coming months.

The takeaway

Oman's push to build a semiconductor ecosystem highlights the growing global competition for technological leadership. By leveraging partnerships with multinational firms and investing in local talent development, the Sultanate aims to diversify its economy and position itself as an innovation hub in the Middle East.