RTITB Middle East has received an award at the OPAL Awards for Best Practices 2024. It recognises RTITB Middle East’s impressive growth since August 2023.
Oman Energy Association (OPAL) presented the award in January 2025. The RTITB team attended the awards ceremony in the Sultanate of Oman, that was held under the patronage of H.E. Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals.
The OPAL Award for Best Practices launched in 2015. It showcases the achievements of its members and partners. Winners are selected by a panel of independent expert judges.
Award recognises commitment to the Sultanate In-Country Value
RTITB Middle East received the award for its commitment to the In-Country Value agenda by localising its Middle East services through a team of competent, young Omani graduates. This no doubt has had a huge impact in the expansion of the RTITB footprint in the Middle East.
RTITB Accredited Training Institutes are now training around 14,000 candidates a year. Across the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the wider Middle East.
The range of training suites includes:
- Lifting equipment operator training
- Defensive driving driver training
- Earth moving machinery operator training
- Dangerous goods driver training
- Instructor “Train-the-Trainer” courses
- Airside ground support equipment driver training
RTITB and OPAL – working in partnership
RTITB has been a Lifting Operations International Awarding Body for OPAL (Oman Energy Association) for the Oman National Occupational Standard Project since 2022.
RTITB provides Train the trainer training and quality assurance for OPAL’s Lifting Operation scheme and has developed the OPAL defensive driving training and assessment package. Plus Dangerous Goods Driver Training, and other training programs.
This partnership helps enhance safety in lifting equipment operations in the oil and gas industry. And in the road transport of petroleum products.
Supporting the local labour market
The award also acknowledges RTITB’s focus on transforming the local employment landscape.
RTITB Middle East established a permanent headquarters in Muscat, Oman, in 2024. This office supports training institutes, vocational colleges, and companies.
As part of its investment in the Middle East, RTITB has committed to creating career opportunities. All services from the headquarters are driven by local people. These professionals upskill thousands of workers across the region. This feeds a local workforce into local roles.
Saving lives together
Thank you to OPAL for this award and for our ongoing partnership. Thanks also to our RTITB Accredited Training Institutes in the Middle East. We value your support and collaboration.
Congratulations to our hard-working team on this fantastic achievement. We are proud to be making a different in safety and skills development across the region.
Author: Abdullah Al Busaidi, Regional Director Middle East, RTITB
As Regional Director for RTITB Middle East, Abdullah Al Busaidi is based in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, where he works closely with regional stakeholders, training institutes and industry representatives.
He is a knowledgeable and experienced leader, coach, and training practitioner. He has worked in relevant industries for more than two decades. These include oil and gas, logistics, and aviation.
Abdullah is passionate about raising standards and safety in workplace transport operations in the Middle East, helping support efficiency, and ultimately help save lives.
Find Abdullah Al Busaidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-al-busaidi-90570361/