BSc Computer Engineering
Sultan Qaboos University
Early Computer Engineering cohorts in Oman
Engineer Said Sulaiman Al Azri
AI Governance Advisor
For over 35 years, I have worked at the intersection of technology and governance in the Sultanate of Oman. My career began as part of the early Computer Engineering cohorts at Sultan Qaboos University, and has since spanned enterprise infrastructure, national-level cybersecurity, AI strategy, education technology, and entrepreneurship.
In 2003, I founded Oman's first Information Security and Standards Office at Royal Court Affairs — building the nation's first institutional security governance framework from the ground up. Over two decades, I worked in critical infrastructure projects including fibre optic networks across 20+ government buildings, enterprise email and antivirus systems, and data centre architecture for the Royal Court Affairs.
In parallel, I built and launched multiple AI-powered digital ventures — including eWathiq, one of Oman's oldest e-learning portals (Award-winning EdTech platform), Zaad Oman (a multivendor marketplace with 500+ vendors), and several AI-driven platforms spanning education, commerce, and media. These experiences — building real systems, deploying real AI, and governing real risk — are the foundation of the 7-Pillar AI Governance Model™.
Qualifications & Credentials
MSc Information Security
Royal Holloway, University of London
Among the earliest Omanis in cybersecurity
Microsoft MCP & MCSE
Microsoft Certified
One of Oman's first 10 certified engineers
35+ Years Experience
Cross-Disciplinary
Engineering, cybersecurity, AI, EdTech, entrepreneurship
37+ Published Books
Amazon Worldwide
Technology, education, philosophy, creative writing
25+ Digital Ventures
AI-Powered Platforms
EdTech, e-commerce, tourism, cultural heritage
Why This Background Matters for AI Governance
AI governance is not a theoretical discipline — it requires someone who has built security frameworks, deployed AI systems, managed enterprise risk, and operated within the regulatory and cultural context of the Gulf region. Most international frameworks are designed in the abstract. The 7-Pillar Model was designed by a practitioner who has done the work.
My security governance background built the accountability and infrastructure pillars. My experience deploying AI platforms informed the strategy, intelligence, and deployment pillars. My understanding of Omani regulation — from the PDPL to the MTCIT General Policy — runs through every sub-dimension. And my decades of working within Omani government and private sector institutions give me a deep understanding of how governance actually operates in this context — not just how it should operate in theory.
The 7-Pillar AI Governance Model™ is the product of everything I have built, governed, and learned over 35 years.