Muscat, Oman

Marking Omani Women’s Day, Ooredoo recently held the sixth Ooredoo Omani Women’s Incubators Forum under the auspices of HH Sayyida Meyyan Shihab Al Said and in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development. The event brought together participants in Ooredoo’s women-dedicated incubators to celebrate their projects and ability to achieve a work-life balance, while contributing to Oman’s economy.

Ooredoo believes that supporting the skills development of strong Omani women drives growth for their families, communities, and the economy. After all, “women hold up half the sky,” as the saying goes, and, in Oman, women were once famously described by His late Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said as one of the wings Oman requires to “soar high” in that same sky like a bird.

The event celebrated the ‘Upgrade Your Incubator’ competition held for Omani women to win prizes towards the digitalisation of marketing by using technology and social media to drive the visibility and profitability of their projects. Women’s incubators also showcased their products from which winners were selected. Moreover, an upcoming skills and creativity workshop was introduced, while sessions focused on social media content creation, empowering small and medium enterprises, and the art of merchandising. Other activities included the ‘Best Omani Traditional Dress and Poetry’ contests.

The Omani Women’s Incubators Forum was partly supported by OTAXI Oman and part of the ‘Ooredoo Goodwill’ programme, which covers various CSR activities and initiatives enabling Ooredoo to make a real difference in the communities it serves. To date, at least ten thousand Omani women have benefitted from Ooredoo’s incubators. These learning hubs support them in developing skills and setting up businesses in information technology, beauty, cooking, sewing, and handicrafts. Through such initiatives, Ooredoo acts as a catalyst to build a supportive ecosystem and empower women with skills, visibility, and a network.