In March 2020, Utilities Middle East reported on a new apprenticeship scheme for Oman's desalination industry. Veolia, Sohar Operation Services and Sembcorp Salalah Power and Water Company launched it together. Over nine months, Omani graduates in mechanical and electrical engineering from Sultan Qaboos University and Salalah Technology College were to combine classes with practical work on site. The Ministry of Manpower certified the scheme against the British NVQ Level 4 qualification. Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and Madayn sponsored it, and the Oman Technology Institute hosted it.
The report showed that operators in Oman wanted not only to run plants but also to train local specialists for the desalination sector in a targeted way.