National Bank of Oman Supports Omani Youth Driven Innovation, Awarding Google Hash Code Winners

As part of its commitment to support Oman’s young innovators, National Bank of Oman recognized four students for their recent success in Google’s global programming competition, Hash Code. Ahmed Al Alawi, Ammar Al Hidaifi, Khalfan Al Busaidi and Loay Al Habsi, software engineering students at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, came in first among Arab countries and 22nd globally for their project, Rakizah. The team was one of more than 9,000 from around the world.

Abdullah Zahran Al Hinai, Chief Executive Officer of National Bank Oman, said, “As a bank, it’s something that is strongly aligned with our strategic focus on innovation. This reward is about investing in Oman’s future, and recognising the amazing contribution these students are making to their country, and the example they are setting to their peers. They have a bright future ahead of them and we wish them all the best.”

Hash Code is a team programming competition organized by Google, for students and professionals around the world. Participants create a team and programming language and Google assigns an engineering problem for them to solve. The competition measures the ability and potential of participants in applying innovative solutions to complex software problems.

NBO’s long-standing commitment to the Sultanate’s young people is demonstrated by a number of initiatives that it organises and supports, including the Youth Awards, Hackathon, Ibtikar Lab, internships, Al Kanz Youth draw among others. The bank’s various youth-centred activities are also reflective of its dynamic and innovative culture, demonstrated by a rising number of technological achievements and state-of-the-art products.