The Middle East regional office of Japanese GLOBIS University was inaugurated in Muscat. The University will establish Oman as its regional hub for activities, marking its first presence in the region.

The inauguration ceremony was patronised by Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Harthi, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs.

The University said that its decision to select Oman as a base for its expansion into the Middle East followed years of close cooperation in leadership development and education. It also reflected its appreciation of Oman’s commitment to developing national talent, diversifying its economy and strengthening international partnerships under Oman Vision 2040. These factors make Muscat a natural base for its regional expansion.

Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, said Oman is developing its education sector, particularly higher education. He noted that the opening of a GLOBIS University office in Oman reflects the confidence the country has gained internationally, whether in terms of stability, commercial and investment opportunities or its Omani students and trainees.

In a statement to the Oman News Agency, he said the University would provide students with suitable opportunities to pursue higher education, particularly in developing leaders, decision-makers and innovative entrepreneurs.

He added that the University offers lectures and seminars on artificial intelligence, digital transformation and strategy development. These fields support Oman Vision 2040 and contribute to the Omani economy.

The inauguration marks the culmination of a cooperation process that began in June 2024, when GLOBIS Japan and Europe signed memoranda of understanding with the Royal Academy of Management. This was followed by a training programme in Japan for 50 participants from the Future Leaders Programme. The University was recognised by Oman’s Ministry of Education in 2025, and the first cohort of Omani students joined its MBA programme in Japan this year. An investment dialogue between GLOBIS Capital Partners and the Oman Investment Authority also began in Singapore in August 2025.

Established in Muscat in June this year, GLOBIS Middle East serves as a commercial representative office and regional headquarters. It will offer corporate education programmes, MBA courses and leadership development. It will also connect institutions and leaders in Oman and the wider region with the global GLOBIS ecosystem through business education, entrepreneurship, start-ups and venture capital. The office aims to create new opportunities for cooperation, knowledge exchange and investment between Oman, Japan and the region.

The inauguration ceremony included a visual presentation on the longstanding Omani-Japanese relations.

As part of the inauguration, a seminar entitled “Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI: The Vision Behind Japan’s No. 1 MBA” was held. It was delivered by Yoshito Hori, Founder and President of GLOBIS, and targeted professionals, students and entrepreneurs. The seminar explored insights into entrepreneurship, leadership and impact creation in an era of rapid technological change.