Why more young Omanis turn to creative careers
Published: 04:07 PM,Jul 09,2025 | EDITED : 09:07 PM,Jul 09,2025
In Oman, jobs in government, engineering, or medicine were seen not only as stable but also as respectable — the roles families encouraged with pride. But today, more young Omanis are redefining what success looks like. A new generation is shifting from conventional professions to creative ones, driven by passion, and a desire to make something meaningful.
In a world that is constantly evolving, many young people no longer see creativity as a hobby, but as a career. Fashion, content creation, lifestyle, photography, or digital art are no longer on the sidelines.
Several factors are fuelling this change. Social media has made it easier to share creative work with audiences globally. An Omani artist on Instagram can now reach followers from New York to Kuala Lumpur. What used to take years of networking can now happen with one viral post. This visibility builds confidence and encourages more young people to explore creative careers.
At the same time, creativity offers something traditional jobs often don’t: emotional connection. Whether it’s telling personal stories through short films, designing clothes that reflects Omani identity, or capturing unfiltered life moments in photography or vlogs, these choices are powerful forms of self-representation.
Still, the path isn’t easy. Many creative youth struggle to get support from their families, face uncertainty around income and lack resources. Some work part-time while building their brands, while others struggle to find clients or recognition in local markets. These challenges are real but they haven’t stopped the change.
Recent local events and platforms are helping. Pop-ups, exhibitions and small business workshops are becoming more common in Muscat and other cities. These spaces allow emerging creatives to collaborate, learn and get seen. They also signal something important: Oman is beginning to recognise the value of creativity not just as art, but as a contributor to the economy, identity and culture.
Parents, educators and decision-makers have a role to play. Encouraging youth to explore creative interests, offering support and building educational programmes around the arts can make a lasting difference. Creativity isn’t about leaving tradition behind, it’s about telling our stories in new ways. And if young Omanis are choosing that path, it’s worth paying attention to.
In the end, this shift isn’t just about jobs; it's about expression, innovation and owning our narratives. The question isn’t “why are so many youth going into creative careers?” The real question is: why not?
In a world that is constantly evolving, many young people no longer see creativity as a hobby, but as a career. Fashion, content creation, lifestyle, photography, or digital art are no longer on the sidelines.
Several factors are fuelling this change. Social media has made it easier to share creative work with audiences globally. An Omani artist on Instagram can now reach followers from New York to Kuala Lumpur. What used to take years of networking can now happen with one viral post. This visibility builds confidence and encourages more young people to explore creative careers.
At the same time, creativity offers something traditional jobs often don’t: emotional connection. Whether it’s telling personal stories through short films, designing clothes that reflects Omani identity, or capturing unfiltered life moments in photography or vlogs, these choices are powerful forms of self-representation.
Still, the path isn’t easy. Many creative youth struggle to get support from their families, face uncertainty around income and lack resources. Some work part-time while building their brands, while others struggle to find clients or recognition in local markets. These challenges are real but they haven’t stopped the change.
Recent local events and platforms are helping. Pop-ups, exhibitions and small business workshops are becoming more common in Muscat and other cities. These spaces allow emerging creatives to collaborate, learn and get seen. They also signal something important: Oman is beginning to recognise the value of creativity not just as art, but as a contributor to the economy, identity and culture.
Parents, educators and decision-makers have a role to play. Encouraging youth to explore creative interests, offering support and building educational programmes around the arts can make a lasting difference. Creativity isn’t about leaving tradition behind, it’s about telling our stories in new ways. And if young Omanis are choosing that path, it’s worth paying attention to.
In the end, this shift isn’t just about jobs; it's about expression, innovation and owning our narratives. The question isn’t “why are so many youth going into creative careers?” The real question is: why not?