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OMAN - Telecoms & IT

Sheila H. Jamal

CEO, Al Madina Group

Bio

Sheila H. Jamal’s career has had many interesting aspects over time starting with the Gulf War in 1990. She took over Al Madina in 2004 with the goal of creating the most innovative IT and security documents organization in Oman. As a result of her educational background in industrial engineering, she has emerged as one of the most successful businesswomen in the Sultanate of Oman. She is globally recognized in the field of documents security in addition to recognition from the Al Mara Women in Excellence Awards.

"Being a client-oriented software development company, Al Madina is committed to providing high-quality products and services to our customers."

Al Madina Group has seen great success over the years due to its hands-on approach toward its customers and its years of experience in diverse international environments.

What main trends in e-solutions within digital ecosystems have you noticed recently, and how has Al Madina Group adapted to them?

COVID-19 has accelerated the digital transformation and made everything more online and digital, and less personal. Everything is systems based, and this trend is gaining significant traction across different sectors. Al Madina Group has noted a surge in demand for integrated e-solutions including chatbots, mobile apps, robotics, and even AI. Regarding the latter, Al Madina Group is adopting a cautious approach, as there needs to be regulations, and we approach projects on a case-by-case basis, doing the needed research and risk assessment in advance.

What is Al Madina Group’s approach when it comes to fostering cybersecurity, especially in light of the rapid acceleration toward digitalization in Oman?

Our approach is continued upgrades, emphasizing cybersecurity’s critical role within digitalization and any efforts that any company or institution might make to embrace digital solutions. Digitalization and cybersecurity need to go hand in hand, and Al Madina Group is constantly evolving its cybersecurity technologies and practices.

Oman has a highly developed and competitive IT market. How is Al Madina Group developing its competitive advantages and using its experience in Oman to reach other markets?

Al Madina Group’s key differentiators are flexibility, its hands-on approach, and years of experience gained not only in Oman but also in diverse international environments. We leverage this experience to provide the best solutions or prevent the worst-case scenarios. The local IT market is becoming saturated, so Al Madina Group is expanding its presence in other markets such as Asia and Africa. Our main focus is to expand internationally, for which Al Madina Group sets up offices or companies in other countries for specific projects; however, the development or support is done from Oman. Our company transfers knowledge and hires local people in the countries where it starts projects in combination with sending staff from our Oman office as required. Our company currently counts on about 100-plus team members. We mostly do business with the government or companies that are government owned, while also incorporating international clients to our portfolio.

What initiatives are you implementing to promote the consolidation of local human capital specialized in different areas within ICT?

Our company supports the training of local citizens through established university programs or individuals who approach us expressing their interest in specific training; we seek to accommodate these as much as possible. In addition, Al Madina Group has engaged in international internships in previous years with students from US universities seeking summer intern programs.

How do you envision the future of Al Madina Group?

Al Madina envisions becoming a company that is capable of providing world-class custom software development services across GCC and Africa. We endeavor to maximize value for our customers by offering them efficient and cost-effective solutions for achieving rapid product innovation and profitability. Being a client-oriented software development company, Al Madina is committed to providing high-quality products and services to our customers.

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