The real estate sector in the Sultanate of Oman is undergoing a fundamental transformation aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. Traditional methods are no longer sufficient to meet the ambitions of a rapidly evolving market. Today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a revolutionary force reshaping the concept of real estate valuation, transforming it from a subjective process reliant on individual expertise into a precise science driven by big data and predictive analytics.
Digital Transformation and an Enabling Regulatory Environment
This transformation did not happen by chance; it has been strongly supported by a progressive regulatory framework. A key milestone was the issuance of Royal Decree No. 79/2025 introducing the Real Estate Regulation Law. This law goes beyond organizing brokerage and development activities—it establishes a modern framework for real estate valuation, opening the door for integrating advanced technologies to enhance transparency and protect investor rights.
How Does Artificial Intelligence Change the Rules of the Game in the Omani Market?
Traditional real estate valuation in Oman often relies on the manual "comparison method," which may be affected by personal biases or a lack of real-time data. In contrast, artificial intelligence technologies provide solutions that go beyond these challenges through:
Big Data Analysis: Processing thousands of real estate transactions registered with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in seconds, while taking into account geographic and economic variables.
Predictive Models: The ability to forecast future price trends in promising areas such as "Sultan Haitham City" or "Al Jabal Al Akhdar" based on development plans and infrastructure.
High Precision: Reducing the margin of human error through algorithms that take into account precise details such as proximity to services, construction quality, and even environmental factors.
Comparison between Traditional Real Estate Valuation and AI-Based Valuation:
Speed:
Traditional: May take days for inspection and research.
AI-based: Instant (within minutes or seconds).
Data Source:
Traditional: Limited samples and personal expertise.
AI-based: Comprehensive and historical databases.
Objectivity:
Traditional: Subject to bias or personal judgment.
AI-based: Highly objective, based on data and numbers.
Cost:
Traditional: Higher fees for individual valuers.
AI-based: Lower operational cost with higher efficiency.
Updates:
Traditional: Relies on relatively outdated data.
AI-based: Real-time updates based on the latest transactions.
Value AI Platform: It provides instant and accurate valuations supported by advanced analytics, enabling banks and investors to make informed decisions. Value Experts has adopted this platform to streamline the preparation of valuation reports, enhancing both the speed and accuracy of the valuations delivered to clients.
Data Quality: The need to continue digitizing all historical real estate records and making them accessible to technology developers.
Human Capacity Building: Transforming the role of the “real estate valuer” from a data seeker into a “strategic analyst” who oversees and validates AI outputs.
Ethics and Governance: Adhering to the National Policy for the Safe and Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence (2025) to ensure data privacy and prevent algorithm manipulation.
