The study aimed to assess the readiness of government institutions in the Sultanate of Oman to adopt data governance by identifying the strategic and legislative foundations of data governance in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the human resources and infrastructure necessary for governance within government institutions. The study relied on a qualitative approach to achieve its objectives and used semi-structured interviews to collect data from a sample comprising seven government institutions and one government company in the Sultanate. The results of the study showed Oman's interest in regulating the legislative framework for data governance by issuing a set of laws governing data handling in government institutions. It also pointed to disparities in the level of readiness of government institutions in Oman for data governance. In addition to a shortage of specialized data governance expertise in Oman, there is a clear need for university and postgraduate graduates in this field. The study recommended developing a strategic plan for implementing data governance to be followed by government institutions and companies in the Sultanate of Oman, and establishing an office to monitor data governance across all government institutions and companies in the Sultanate of Oman. This office would be responsible for monitoring the implementation of strategies and policies and ensuring compliance, and would submit performance reports to the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology.

This study aimed to assess the readiness of government institutions in the Sultanate of Oman to adopt data governance by identifying the strategic and legislative foundations of data governance in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the human resources and infrastructure necessary for governance within government institutions. This study relied on a qualitative approach to achieve its objectives and used semi-structured interviews to collect data from a sample comprising seven government institutions and one government company in the Sultanate. Interview transcripts were analyzed through thematic coding, first identifying initial codes and then grouping them into broader categories aligned with the study objectives. The results of this study showed Oman’s interest in regulating the legislative framework for data governance, demonstrated by a set of laws issued to govern data handling in government institutions. It also highlighted disparities in the level of readiness of government institutions in Oman for data governance. In addition to a shortage of specialized data governance expertise in Oman, there is a clear need for university graduates and postgraduate research in this field. This study recommended developing a strategic plan for implementing data governance, to be followed by government institutions and companies in the Sultanate of Oman, and the establishment of an office to monitor data governance across all government institutions and companies in the Sultanate of Oman. This office would be responsible for monitoring the implementation of strategies and policies and ensuring compliance and would submit performance reports to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.