Imagination is the cornerstone of innovation, yet it is often sidelined in favor of pragmatism and short-term gains. The Sultanate of Oman’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has made commendable progress, with over 100,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and around 200 active start-ups contributing nearly 25 per cent to the country’s GDP.
However, despite these achievements, the ecosystem lacks the imaginative spark needed to inspire transformative growth and tackle societal challenges. For Oman’s entrepreneurial efforts to truly flourish, we must place imagination at the centre of our strategy.
Albert Einstein once remarked, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination encircles the world.” This insight is profoundly relevant to entrepreneurship. In Stockholm, a Unicef kindergarten demonstrated the transformative potential of imagination. Children there conceptualised practical ideas, such as a stroller parking area and a playful tunnel connecting parts of the playground. If children can dream and act on such ideas, imagine the possibilities when this mindset is applied to start-ups tackling critical issues in Oman.
While Oman’s entrepreneurship ecosystem has grown steadily, it is not yet producing the kinds of bold, scalable ventures that ignite widespread inspiration. The challenges are clear: limited access to venture capital, insufficient collaboration across sectors and a culture that often rewards caution over risk-taking.
To build a stronger ecosystem, Oman must nurture the imaginative potential of its entrepreneurs and create environments where creativity thrives. This requires a shift in mindset — from treating entrepreneurship as a mechanical process to embracing it as a dynamic, human-centered journey.
Globally, ecosystems that prioritise imagination have demonstrated lasting impact. Finland, for example, emphasises creativity and collaboration in its education system, producing globally successful start-ups like Supercell and Wolt. Similarly, Rwanda’s tech ecosystem has risen from adversity to champion socially impactful innovations like Zipline, which uses drones to deliver medical supplies to remote areas.
These ecosystems thrive because they align imagination with opportunity, creating networks where ideas can evolve into real-world solutions. Oman can learn from these examples by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting startups with a clear social and environmental focus and celebrating bold ideas that address global challenges.
To strengthen its ecosystem, Oman needs an imagination-driven strategy that prioritises three key pillars:
1. Education for creativity: As a teacher, I strongly believe that schools and universities must move beyond rote, or memorisation learning to cultivate critical thinking, design skills and problem-solving. Programmes that combine entrepreneurship with creative disciplines can prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving world.
2. Support for bold ventures: Policies and alternative funding mechanisms should prioritise startups addressing sustainability, technology and social innovation. A focus on founders and ventures that align with global challenges — such as renewable energy, food security and digital inclusion — can position Oman as a leader in the region.
3. Liquid networks for collaboration: Oman needs more spaces for entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers to connect and collaborate. Innovation hubs, co-working spaces and targeted events can serve as platforms for exchanging ideas and sparking new partnerships.
The time to act is now, imagination is Oman’s greatest untapped resource. By embedding it into the heart of its entrepreneurship ecosystem, the nation can transform from a promising player to a powerhouse of innovation. Oman has the talent, the heritage and the ambition — it simply needs the courage to imagine bigger and act boldly.
As Maya Angelou wisely said, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Oman’s path to a stronger ecosystem lies in embracing the power of imagination. The time to start is now.
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