Muscat: The Ministry of Information today introduced ‘Ayn for Children,’ a dedicated media platform aimed at young audiences. The launch coincided with the opening of the 29th Muscat International Book Fair, an event graced by HH Sayyid Dr. Fahd Al Julanda Al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, alongside Dr. Abdullah Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information. The platform is designed to enhance child-focused media content, providing youth with resources to enrich their awareness, develop their personalities, and reinforce their national identity. It aims to offer content that embodies Omani culture and values while preparing future generations to engage effectively with modern technology.
According to Oman News Agency, Ayn for Children presents a range of educational, entertainment, and cultural content. This includes cartoons, programs, audio content, audiobooks, and other materials suitable for children aged 4 to 18. Dr. Amal Mohammed Al Nawfali, Director General of Digital Media at the Ministry of Information, emphasized that the platform provides a meticulously crafted digital edutainment experience. It features an intuitive, child-friendly interface with vibrant colors inspired by the Ayn platform. The platform ensures accessibility for all children, including those with visual or hearing impairments, and offers exclusive content that supports national identity and ethical values.
Al Nawfali also highlighted the platform’s key technical features, such as personalized child accounts with customizable cartoon avatars, offline content downloads, an advanced search engine for audio-visual materials, and a resume-play function for interrupted sessions. Additionally, the platform offers a dedicated space for young content creators, allowing them to showcase their work and nurture future media talent.
The platform boasts an extensive library of over 65,000 audio-visual items, including more than 8,000 child-specific materials that span radio/TV programs, original productions, animations, and audiobooks. It is accessible globally, reaching audiences in over 170 countries, and supports smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, and web browsers.
Notably, the Ministry of Information’s Ayn platform is Oman’s largest audio-visual content hub, having surpassed 16 million views since its soft launch.