Women play a role at every level of Omani society today. From traditional professions like medicine and teaching to the oil and gas industry and Information Technology, women have taken advantage of every opportunity to explore diverse areas and interests, including creative arts and industry.
As commonly known, women occupy high governmental and ministerial positions in Oman, as well as being in the diplomatic service and other international organisations.
However, one of the most notable visible trends today is the engagement of Omani women as entrepreneurs in a range of fields.
In 2022, four Omanis were among Forbes Middle East’s 50 most powerful women entrepreneurs, being involved with a range of industries like banking, retail, and a range of associated conglomerates.
However, more significantly, the individual entrepreneurs involved in different areas like cottage industries, service, and creative arts are redefining how businesses can be operated.
One of the most important reasons for the popularity of micro-enterprises and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) among women in Oman is the possibility to combine family life with business and connect to different parts of the country and the world from the comfort of the house.
This has been especially true after the pandemic when many people began to appreciate the value of online shopping. This also added another feature in that products could be shared with a network of family and friends.
Whether it is abayas, frankincense, baked goods, or personalised party favours, there are women who are sourcing, producing, and offering a range of such products, delivered to a home address within hours or days.
This is mainly possible because of social media, especially Instagram, the largest and most popular platform for women entrepreneurs in Oman.
In fact, Yasmeen Al Alawi became the first winner of the She’s Next Grant programme for Oman for her proposal to establish a health food business, Sprout. Such competitions and opportunities provide platforms for women to incubate and highlight their ideas and get funding.
Various studies show that the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, in addition to social attitudes, include financial support, access to technology, opportunities for collaboration, and training in the latest models of marketing and research.
Although there are a number of forums available in Oman for aspiring women entrepreneurs, access to such forums and information on them is not always available, particularly to those outside the capital of Muscat.
SMEs are an integral part of the economy of a country and women play an important part in this development. With rising incentives and information, women in Oman are becoming more entrepreneurial, contributing to the national economy. In doing so, they are also redefining themselves by exploring their strengths and interests and ways of turning them into profitable businesses.
With wider social and institutional support, Omani women who are already heading towards creative entrepreneurship, will succeed in reinventing the business environment, grow further, and sustainably contribute to the economy while pursuing their own passions and interests.
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