Monday 05 / October / 2026
Muscat: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) celebrated on Monday in Muscat the graduation of the 21st batch of the Emdad programme, which comprises 366 Omani youths among its graduates.
The graduation ceremony was held under the auspices of Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth.
The implementation of this programme comes through a partnership between Petroleum Development Oman and the Oman Energy Association (OPAL), with the participation of a number of private sector contracting companies, embodying the shared commitment to developing national capabilities, increasing job opportunities for Omani youth in the labour market, and supporting in-country value (ICV) in the energy sector.
The programme combines theoretical qualification of national competencies with practical experience in the workplace environment, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills required by the sector and preparing them to enter the labour market.
Dr. Aflah Said Al Hadhrami, Director General of Petroleum Development Oman, said: "At PDO, we believe that investing in people is an investment in the future of Oman, and our youth, with their ambition and competence, are the cornerstone of this future. It is our responsibility to provide them with opportunities that hone their skills, enrich their experiences, and enable them to build successful careers."
Al Hadhrami explained that this programme is held within an integrated system for in-country value at Petroleum Development Oman, which includes empowering and employing Omani talent, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and localising domestic industries, thereby contributing to creating sustainable economic value within the Sultanate of Oman. Over the past ten years, the direct economic value generated by the company's in-country value programme reached more than OMR7 billion and contributed to providing over 17,500 job opportunities for Omanis, reflecting the impact of these initiatives in supporting economic and social development and building national capabilities.
This batch of the Emdad programme included several specialised disciplines required in the Omani energy sector, namely the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Professionals Training for Employment Programme, the Planning Engineering Training for Employment Programme, the Lifting Equipment Inspection Training for Employment Programme, the Practical Training Programme with Contracting Partners, the Vocational Apprenticeship Programme, the Drilling Fluids Engineers Programme, the Explosion Protection Equipment Inspectors Programme, the Electrical Technicians Programme, and the Mobile Crane Operators Programme.
It is worth noting that all graduates of this 21st batch have joined employment across 54 companies, embodying the direct impact of the program in linking qualification with employment opportunities and supplying the sector with qualified national competencies.
